By Obiabin Onukwugha
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has ordered immediate cleanup and remediation of communities impacted by an oil spill from the Trans Forcados Pipeline, managed by Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL), in Wari Soith-West local government area of the state.
It would be recalled that the oil spill which affected Odidi and other coastal communities was first observed on February 20, this year
Speaking during an inspection visit to Odidi community on Tuesday, Oborevwori directed the State Commissioner for Health to “immediately deploy medical teams to affected communities to assess residents and determine the health implications of the pollution.”
He lamented that the situation in the community has become too serious to be treated casually. “We have to take this matter seriously. Once you see what is happening, you realise that it is a very big issue. We don’t want our people dying at this time. We cannot afford to lose our focus or waste time. We have to act quickly and decisively,” he said.
Oborevwori also directed the operator, Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, to deploy a medical team and provide relief materials, stressing that the medical teams will visit the affected communities, assess the environmental and health impact and determine appropriate intervention.
The governor also demanded genuine dialogue between the company and host communities, stating that while an initial assessment showed that about 86 communities were affected, the number has now risen to 216.
He assured the affected communities that his administration will continue to engage the relevant stakeholders until their concerns were addressed, while commending the security agencies for maintaining peace during the intervention.
He, however, appealed to the communities to remain peaceful and law-abiding, stressing that the government would pursue the matter through dialogue and due process.
Oborevwori lamented that the pollution had severely affected fishing, the major source of livelihood for many residents, resulting in scarcity and increased prices of fish.
He stressed that the crisis was not merely about compensation, but about restoring the environment, protecting human lives and safeguarding the livelihoods of the affected people, and directed the Commissioners for Oil and Gas, Chief Peter Uviejitobor, and Environment, Moses Ogodo, to monitor the timeline for the implementation of his directives to the oil company and report back to him.
Meanwhile, the General Manager, Operations Integrity, Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, Nelson Wilbert, assured that the company was committed to working with the state government, host communities, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and other stakeholders to resolve the crisis.
Wilbert said the immediate priority was to complete the ongoing technical operations, including installation, stopping the spill and pressure testing, required to safely restore normal operations.
He added that the company would work with regulatory authorities and affected communities to assess the environmental damage, clean up impacted areas and provide appropriate compensation.
The governor was accompanied by the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor; Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale; Commander, 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Asaba, Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Buhari; Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship Delta, Warri, Commodore Shehu Tasiu; Commander, 3144 Operating Base, Nigerian Air Force, Warri, Group Capt. Charles Abara; State Director of the Department of State Services, Dr Peter Afunanya; and other senior government officials, during the visit.
