NOSDRA was established by the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Act of 2006. It was established with responsibility for preparedness, detection, and response to oil spillages in Nigeria. Its Head office is at 5th floor NAIC House plot 590, zone AO, Central Business District, Abuja. With its zonal offices in Lagos, Akure, Porth-court, Warri, Kaduna, Uyo, Kogi, Gombe and Bayelsa.

The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) was established in 2006 as an institutional framework to co-ordinate the implementation of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP) for Nigeria in accordance with the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (OPRC 90) to which Nigeria is a signatory. Since its establishment, the Agency has been intensely occupied with ensuring compliance with environment legislation in the Nigerian Petroleum Sector.

The Agency embarks on Joint Investigation Visits, ensures the remediation of impacted sites and monitors oil spill drill exercises and facilities inspection.

It has set up Zonal Offices in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Uyo all in the Niger-Delta region where much of oil exploration and production in Nigeria is carried out and there are also zonal offices in Lagos, Kaduna, Kogi, Gombe and Akure. NOSDRA is currently liaising with relevant stakeholders in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry to evolve practical methods of environmental management to cope with the dynamics of the Petroleum Sector.