Section 6: Functions of the Agency.

(1) The Agency shall:
(a) be responsible for surveillance and ensure compliance with all existing environmental legislation and the detection of oil spills in the petroleum sector;
(b) receive reports of oil spillages and co-ordinate oil spill response activities throughout Nigeria;
(c) co-ordinate the implementation of the Plan as may be formulated, from time to time, by the Federal Government;
(d) co-ordinate the implementation of the Plan for the removal of hazardous substances as may be issued by the Federal Government;
(e) perform such other functions as may be required to achieve the aims and objectives of the Agency under this Act or any plan as may be formulated by the Federal Government pursuant to this Act.
(2) An oil spiller is by this Act to report an oil spill to the Agency in writing not later than 24hours after the occurrence of an oil spill, in default of which the failure to report shall attract a penalty in the sum of five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00) for each day of failure to report the occurrence. (Penalties)
(3) The failure to clean up the impacted site, to all practical extent including remediation, shall attract a further fine of one million Naira.
(4) Such notice in writing is deemed to have been made, if delivered at the nearest zonal office closer to the impacted site, and of the Agency, the National Control and Response Centre within the stipulated time in subsection (2).