The ASM Department is charged with the responsibility for surveillance and to ensure compliance with all existing environmental legislation and the detection of oil spills in the petroleum sector (NOSDRA Establishment Act 2006 Section 6 (10) (a)). In achieving the above responsibility, there is need for a Pipeline Integrity Assurance Program under a full fledge Assets Integrity Management (AIM). Pipeline Integrity Management is important in the oil and gas industry in order to prevent leaks, reduce environmental risks, and maintain the safe and continuous transportation of petroleum products.

It is a well-known fact that the integrity of oil and gas assets in the Nigerian energy sector has been a thing of concern for both the government, environmentalists, communities, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders. Some of the cases of oil spillages and the attendant environmental degradation been witnessed in the country, most especially in the Niger Delta area, where most of the oil and gas activities are concentrated, are attributable to equipment failure. Failure of oil and gas assets and equipment are usually as a result of lost of integrity which is connected to over use, extended life cycle or non-maintenance.

In other to  guide against environmental pollution and hazards associated with ageing assets in the industry, the Agency has come up with a robust Assets Integrity Management Programme which will ensure that asset owners/operators put in place maintenance programme and replacement plan for all assets been used in the industry.