Mulade Call for Envirnomental Emergency as Oil Spill Dey Affect Delta Communities

Chief (Comrade) Mulade Sheriff, one environmental rights and peace advocate from Delta State, don urge di Federal Government, Delta State Government and all relevant regulatory agencies to sharpaly declare environmental emergency over one major oil spill wey allegedly don affect many host communities for Warri South-West and Burutu Local Government Areas of Delta State.

For one statement wey e release on Wednesday, Mulade describe di incident as serious environmental disaster wey fit cause long-lasting damage to di environment if authorities no put body for di gbege.

Some of di communities wey don allegedly suffer from di spill include Odidi, Kusimi, Batan, Izansa, Ajuju, Egwa, Tekedor-Kusimi, Oweizibiri-Ebisoko, Edagbene, Ogeh-Appallagbene, Iniebogbene, Ikeremor, Ikeremor-Zion, Yeye 1, Yeye 2, Ofougbene, Forcados, Kufabou, Odimodi, Gbidipou and several other Ijaw communities across Warri South-West and Burutu LGAs.

According to di Mulade, di spill allegedly come from facilities operated by Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited across Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 4, 26, 34, 38, 41 and 42.

Say oil spills na one of di biggest environmental challenges wey dey face di Niger Delta. Under di Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, oil companies suppose prevent pollution, respond sharpaly sharpaly anytime spill happen and restore affected environments.

He warned say rivers, creeks, mangrove forests and farmlands wey dey serve as di main source of livelihood for affected communities don reportedly contaminate and dis one dey put thousands of pipo wey depend on fishing and farming inside difficulty.

Mulade still warn say if oil operators and government regulators fail to act immediately, di environmental damage could become worse and increase social tension in already vulnerable communities.

As of di time wey dem file dis report, Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, NOSDRA and di NUPRC never publicly chook mouth on top di allegations and we dey expect their response anytime dey come online.