Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has assured residents of Uzere Kingdom that his administration will ensure Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL) meets its obligations to communities affected by the ongoing oil spill and gas leak in Isoko South Local Government Area.
The governor gave the assurance on Friday during an on-the-spot assessment of the affected sites in Uzere. He said the visit was necessary to obtain first-hand information that would guide the state government’s engagement with the operator and ensure that containment, cleanup and remediation are properly carried out.
Oborevwori directed the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, to deploy medical personnel to examine residents and determine possible health implications of exposure to the pollution. The outreach, he said, would cover affected communities as well as Uzere town.
He recalled that after a similar incident in Odidi, the state government deployed more than 100 medical personnel to provide healthcare services to residents. He said a comparable medical intervention would now be extended to Uzere.
Community leaders have previously raised concerns over rising sicknesses since the gas leak began, while some residents close to the affected area were relocated to safer locations.
The governor said the state government had engaged HEOSL and received explanations on measures taken to contain the incident. While expressing satisfaction that cleanup operations had commenced, he insisted that the exercise must be followed by full environmental remediation.
He urged the company to sustain engagement with host communities and address their legitimate concerns. “Delay is not denial,” Oborevwori said, explaining that established procedures and processes account for some delays in resolving complaints. He was accompanied by commissioners for Oil and Gas, Environment, Youth Development, Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information.
The Manager, Government and Community Relations of HEOSL, Dr. Jeremiah Oharisi, said the company received information about gas build-up at the well on June 27. He explained that the well’s two production strings, Lima and Syria, had been shut down in 2019 and 2023 respectively, leaving it inactive before the incident.
According to Oharisi, gas accumulated in the reservoir and eventually forced its way to the surface, causing bubbling and the escape of crude oil. He said the company activated emergency measures, including securing the area, sensitising residents, evacuating people from the vicinity and deploying fire trucks.
The incident has already polluted farmlands and water sources in Uzere, threatening the livelihoods of farmers and fishermen in the oil-producing community. The President-General of Uzere Kingdom, Chief Edward Onyagbodor, said the company’s intervention had been largely limited to palliatives estimated at between N10.2 million and N10.6 million.
A former President-General of the Isoko Development Union, Chief Iduh Amadhe, urged the governor to prevail on Heritage Energy to show greater commitment to host communities. He said OML 30, operated by the company, has 112 host communities: 89 Urhobo, 13 Isoko, six Ijaw and four Itsekiri communities.
Oborevwori commended residents for maintaining peace despite their grievances and urged continued dialogue between the community and the oil company. He assured the people that his administration would support efforts to secure a fair resolution.