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Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has ordered immediate medical intervention and emergency cleanup following the devastating oil spill along the Trans-Forcados pipeline.
Oborevwori gave the order on Tuesday during an inspection visit to Odidi community, Warri South-West Local Government Area, where he said the state government would not allow affected communities to suffer.
He directed the State Commissioner for Health to immediately deploy medical teams to assess residents and determine the health implications of the pollution.
He also directed Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL) to deploy its own medical team and provide relief materials.
“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.
Oborevwori, who was accompanied by the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Emomotimi Guwor, Chairman of Warri South-West LGA, Hon Sylvester Oromoni, and top government officials, said intervention would go beyond relief materials.
He said medical teams will visit all affected communities, assess environmental and health impacts and recommend appropriate action.
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The governor disclosed that the number of affected communities has risen from 86 to 216, lamenting that the pollution has destroyed fishing, the major source of livelihood, leading to scarcity and high cost of fish.
He said the operating company, Heritage, has assured that technical operations will be concluded and cleanup completed before the end of October, after which compensation and other measures will be discussed.
He warned that commitments made by the company must be honoured and appealed to communities to remain peaceful and law-abiding.
Responding to requests by Odidi community, Oborevwori approved the construction of a landing jetty and directed the Chairman of Warri South-West LGA to build a modern health centre for the community.
Chairman of Odidi Community, Comrade Truston Gbenekama, had thanked the governor for the visit and appealed for jetty, health centre, potable water and environmental reclamation.
Meanwhile, General Manager, Operations Integrity, Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, Nelson Wilbert, said the company was committed to working with the state government, host communities, NUPRC and other stakeholders to stop the spill, restore operations safely and commence remediation and compensation.
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, and demanded comprehensive remediation, compensation and increased medical support for residents with respiratory problems.
