Oborevwori Orders Medical Intervention As Oil Spill Affects 216 Delta Communities
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has ordered immediate medical intervention for communities affected by the oil spill along the Trans-Forcados pipeline, as the number of affected communities rises from an initial 86 to 216.
According to a statement made available on Tuesday, Oborevwori gave the directive during an inspection visit to Odidi community, Warri South-West Local Government Area, where he directed the Commissioner for Health to immediately deploy medical teams to the affected communities.
The teams are expected to assess residents and determine the health implications of the pollution.
The governor also directed Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited to deploy a medical team and provide relief materials to affected communities.
Saying the situation had become too serious to be treated casually, Oborevwori said, “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.”
The governor said the intervention would go beyond the distribution of relief materials, stressing that residents must be medically examined because of the possible health consequences of prolonged exposure to pollution.
He said, “The medical teams will visit the affected communities, assess the environmental and health impact and determine appropriate intervention.”
According to the statement, the exercise would also cover other areas affected by the incident, while Heritage was expected to deploy its own medical team and provide relief materials.
Oborevwori also demanded genuine dialogue between the oil operator and host communities, saying, “Meaningful engagement is necessary to resolve the crisis and prevent further tension.”
He assured the communities that his administration would continue to engage relevant stakeholders until their concerns were addressed, while commending the security agencies for maintaining peace during the intervention.
Speaking to affected residents, Oborevwori disclosed that the scale of the pollution had increased significantly.
“While the initial assessment showed that about 86 communities were affected, the number has now risen to 216,” he said.
The governor said the operating company had assured the state government that the technical process would be concluded and the cleanup completed before the end of October.
He said the affected communities would thereafter be engaged on compensation and other measures.
Oborevwori warned that the company’s commitments must be honoured, stressing that the government would take necessary steps to ensure compliance.
He, however, appealed to the affected communities to remain peaceful and law-abiding, saying the government would pursue the matter through dialogue and due process.
The governor also lamented the effect of the pollution on fishing, which he identified as the major source of livelihood for many residents.
He said the pollution had resulted in scarcity and increased prices of fish, further affecting the livelihoods of residents in the affected communities.
Oborevwori 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.
“The crisis is not merely about compensation. It is about restoring the environment, protecting human lives and safeguarding the livelihoods of the affected people,” he said.
As part of measures to address the needs of Odidi community, the governor approved the construction of a landing jetty and directed the Chairman of Warri South-West Local Government Area to build a modern health centre for the community.
He also 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, said 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 restore normal operations safely.
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 President of the Ijaw Youth Council, Dr Doubra Okotete, called for urgent action to halt the pollution, alleging that crude was still being pumped through leaking pipelines.
Okotete urged the authorities and oil operators to undertake comprehensive remediation and compensate affected residents, while calling for increased medical support, particularly for residents suffering from respiratory problems.
