Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has assured the people of Uzere Kingdom in Isoko South Local Government Area that his administration will ensure Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited meets its obligations to communities affected by oil spills and other environmental challenges.
Oborevwori gave the assurance on Friday during an inspection of oil spill sites in Uzere, where he said he visited to assess the extent of the damage and obtain first-hand information to guide the state government’s engagement with the operating company.
The governor said his administration had been monitoring developments in Uzere and other affected communities, including Odidi, through reports from government officials, community leaders and stakeholders, but decided to visit the sites personally to ascertain the situation.
Recalling the state’s response to a similar incident in Odidi, Oborevwori said the government deployed more than 100 medical personnel to provide healthcare services to residents, assuring that a similar intervention would be extended to Uzere.
He directed the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, to ensure that residents of the affected communities received medical attention, including examinations to determine possible health implications of the incident.
The governor added that the medical outreach would also cover residents of Uzere town.
Oborevwori said the government had engaged Heritage Energy and received explanations about measures taken to contain the incident.
He noted that the company had held preliminary engagements with host communities before commencing containment and cleanup operations, expressing satisfaction that the cleanup exercise was already underway.
He, nonetheless, insisted that the cleanup must be followed by proper remediation to address the environmental damage, urging the company to sustain dialogue with the communities and respond to their legitimate concerns.
The governor also appealed to residents not to interpret delays in addressing some of their complaints as a lack of commitment by his administration, explaining that government interventions must follow established procedures.
“Delay is not denial. There are procedures and processes, and that is the reason for any delay. I am here with the Commissioners for Oil and Gas, Environment and Youth Development, Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, to see things for ourselves, meet with the host community and engage with the company,” he said.
Oborevwori commended the people for maintaining peace despite their grievances, stressing that dialogue remained the most effective means of resolving disputes between host communities and oil companies.
He urged Heritage Energy to cooperate with the communities and take their concerns seriously, assuring them that the state government would support efforts to secure a fair resolution.
Earlier, the Manager, Government and Community Relations of Heritage Energy, Prince Jeremiah Oharisi, said the company received information about gas build-up at the well on June 27.
Oharisi explained that the well had two production strings, known as Lima and Syria, which were shut down in 2019 and 2023, respectively, leaving it inactive before the incident.
According to him, gas accumulated in the reservoir and eventually forced its way to the surface, causing bubbling and the escape of some crude oil.
He said the company immediately activated emergency response measures, including securing the affected area, sensitising the host community, evacuating residents from the vicinity and deploying fire trucks.
Oharisi added that efforts were also initiated to contain and recover the escaping crude oil.
But the President-General of Uzere Kingdom, Chief Edward Onyagbodor, lamented that the company’s intervention had largely been limited to the provision of palliatives estimated at between N10.2 million and N10.6 million.
Similarly, a former President-General of the Isoko Development Union, Chief Iduh Amadhe, urged the governor to prevail on Heritage Energy to demonstrate greater commitment to the welfare of its host communities.
Amadhe disclosed that OML 30, operated by Heritage Energy, has 112 host communities, comprising 89 Urhobo, 13 Isoko, six Ijaw and four Itsekiri communities.
