No fewer than 216 communities in Delta State have been affected by the oil spill along the Trans-Forcados Pipeline, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has said.
Oborevwori disclosed this on Tuesday during an inspection of the affected area in Odidi, Warri South-West Local Government Area, where he ordered immediate medical intervention for residents.
He directed the Commissioner for Health to deploy medical teams to the affected communities to examine residents and assess the health impact of prolonged exposure to the pollution.
The governor also directed Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, the operator, to provide medical support and relief materials to affected communities.
“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 have to act quickly and decisively,” he said.
Oborevwori said the intervention should go beyond compensation and relief materials, stressing the need to protect lives, restore the environment and safeguard the livelihoods of residents.
He said the number of affected communities had risen from an initial 86 to 216 following further assessment.
The governor said Heritage had assured the state government that the technical work would be completed and the clean-up concluded before the end of October.
He warned that the company must honour its commitments, adding that the state government would take necessary steps to ensure compliance.
Oborevwori also called for dialogue between the operator and host communities to resolve the crisis and prevent further tension.
He lamented that the pollution had severely affected fishing, a major source of livelihood for residents, leading to fish scarcity and higher prices.
“This is not just about compensation. It is about restoring the environment, protecting human lives and safeguarding the livelihoods of our people,” he said.
The governor approved the construction of a landing jetty for Odidi Community and directed the Warri South-West Local Government Chairman to build a modern health centre.
He also directed the Commissioners for Oil and Gas and Environment, Peter Uviejitobor and Moses Ogodo, respectively, to monitor the company’s compliance with the directives and report back to him.
Speaking for Heritage, the company’s General Manager, Operations Integrity, Nelson Wilbert, said the firm was working with the state government, host communities, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and other stakeholders to resolve the crisis.
He said the immediate priority was to complete technical operations to stop the spill and safely restore normal operations.
Wilbert added that the company would assess the environmental damage, clean up affected areas and provide appropriate compensation.
However, the President of the Ijaw Youth Council, Dr Doubra Okotete, called for urgent action to stop the pollution, alleging that crude was still being pumped through leaking pipelines.
He called for comprehensive remediation, compensation and increased medical support for affected residents, particularly those suffering respiratory problems.
The Chairman of Odidi Community, Comrade Truston Gbenekama, appealed for potable water, environmental reclamation and the construction of the promised jetty and health centre.
