Residents and people of Uzere Community in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, have sent a Save our soul SoS message to President Bola Tinubu and the Delta State Governor,Sheriff Oborevwori, over what they described as life threatening oil and gas spill from Well 14 of the OML 30 cluster 09.
In an open letter tagged ‘A CRY FOR HELP FROM UZERE, SAVE OUR LAND, WATER, HEALTH AND LIVELIHOODS FROM AN ONGOING OIL AND GAS DISASTER’ addressed to the President and signed by Amb. Prince Ogologo M. O., Coordinator of the Concerned Uzere Oil and Gas Stakeholders Forum representing landowners, farmers, fishermen, youths and residents appealed for immediate Presidential intervention over the continuing crude oil and gas pollution allegedly emanating from Wellhead 14, OML 30 Cluster 09, Uzere.
Read the complete letter:
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR
President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
Federal Republic of Nigeria
State House, Abuja.
URGENT PRESIDENTIAL INTERVENTION REQUIRED: CONTINUOUS CRUDE OIL AND GAS SPILL AT WELLHEAD 14, OML 30 CLUSTER 09, UZERE, ISOKO SOUTH LGA, DELTA STATE
Your Excellency,
RE: A CRY FOR HELP FROM UZERE, SAVE OUR LAND, WATER, HEALTH AND LIVELIHOODS FROM AN ONGOING OIL AND GAS DISASTER
We, the Concerned Uzere Oil and Gas Stakeholders Forum, representing concerned stakeholders, landowners, farmers, fishermen, youths and residents of Uzere Community in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, respectfully write to Your Excellency with an urgent appeal for immediate Presidential intervention over the continuing crude oil and gas pollution allegedly emanating from Wellhead 14, OML 30 Cluster 09, Uzere.
This is not a political appeal. It is a humanitarian, environmental and national-interest appeal.
We appeal to Your Excellency because the people of Uzere are increasingly confronted with a situation that threatens their land, water, health, livelihoods, food security, biodiversity and future generations.
THE INCIDENT
According to information available to the affected community, the incident commenced on or about 27 June 2026, allegedly following an equipment failure at Wellhead 14 during the operations of Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL), the operator of OML 30.
The community is deeply concerned that the release of crude oil and associated gas has continued for an unacceptable period, with affected areas reportedly experiencing contamination and environmental degradation.
We respectfully urge the Federal Government to independently verify the cause, duration, volume and extent of the discharge, rather than relying solely on representations from any interested party.
A COMMUNITY UNDER ENVIRONMENTAL DISTRESS
Uzere is an oil-producing community whose natural resources have contributed to Nigeria’s petroleum economy for decades.
Yet, the people who live on and around these resources continue to face the consequences of environmental degradation.
Farmlands that sustain families are reportedly being contaminated.
Streams, creeks and fishing grounds that support local livelihoods are reportedly affected.
The aquatic ecosystem and biodiversity are under threat.
Farmers and fishermen face loss of income and food sources.
Residents are increasingly worried about the potential consequences of prolonged exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons and associated pollutants.
The consequences extend beyond today’s economic losses. Environmental contamination can affect soil productivity, water quality, aquatic life, public health and the ability of future generations to safely depend upon the land.
Your Excellency, this is therefore more than an oil-field operational incident.
It is a matter of environmental justice, human dignity, public health and national responsibility.
WHY PRESIDENTIAL INTERVENTION IS NECESSARY
We recognise that Nigeria has established regulatory institutions responsible for petroleum operations and oil-spill response.
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has the statutory responsibility to detect oil spills, coordinate response activities and enforce relevant environmental requirements in the petroleum sector.
However, given the continuing nature of the reported incident and the gravity of the concerns being raised by the affected community, we respectfully request that Your Excellency direct the relevant federal institutions to move beyond routine correspondence and undertake an urgent, transparent and independently verifiable intervention.
OUR SPECIFIC DEMANDS
We respectfully request that Your Excellency direct the appropriate Federal Government authorities to:
1. IMMEDIATELY CONTAIN THE SPILL
Direct the operator and relevant regulatory agencies to take all necessary emergency measures to stop and permanently contain the crude oil and gas discharge from Wellhead 14, subject to independent technical verification.
2. CONDUCT AN INDEPENDENT JOINT INVESTIGATION
Mandate an urgent Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) involving the relevant regulators, the operator, the affected community and appropriately qualified independent technical/environmental experts to establish:
– the actual cause of the incident;
– the date and duration of the discharge;
– the estimated volume of crude oil and associated pollutants released;
– the geographical extent of the contamination;
– the affected farmlands, waterways, fishing grounds and residences; and
– the immediate and long-term environmental consequences.
3. COMMISSION A COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN-HEALTH ASSESSMENT
Direct a scientifically credible assessment of affected soil, surface water, groundwater, aquatic ecosystems, vegetation and other environmental receptors, together with appropriate public-health screening for residents who may have been exposed.
4. COMMENCE IMMEDIATE CLEAN-UP AND REMEDIATION
Require the responsible parties to commence effective remediation and restoration of all affected lands, waterways, wetlands and ecosystems in accordance with applicable Nigerian requirements and internationally recognised environmental best practice.
5. PROVIDE FAIR AND VERIFIABLE COMPENSATION
Establish a transparent mechanism for identifying all legitimate victims and assessing losses suffered by landowners, farmers, fishermen, traders and other affected residents.
The Forum demands ₦2 billion as an initial compensation claim, subject to a transparent, independent assessment of actual environmental damage, economic losses, livelihood disruption and other compensable impacts.
6. PROVIDE EMERGENCY HEALTH SUPPORT
Direct the relevant health authorities to undertake immediate medical and environmental-health intervention for residents who may have been exposed to crude oil, petroleum hydrocarbons or associated emissions.
7. PROTECT THE COMMUNITY’S WATER AND FOOD SOURCES
Where water sources or food-producing areas have been contaminated, appropriate alternative water supplies and emergency livelihood support should be provided pending effective remediation and certification of affected areas as safe.
8. ENSURE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND TRANSPARENCY
Require the operator and government agencies to maintain structured and documented engagement with legitimate representatives of Uzere throughout investigation, containment, clean-up, remediation, compensation and monitoring.
No decision concerning the affected community should be taken about the people without the people.
9. IMPLEMENT A PERMANENT ENGINEERING SOLUTION
The people of Uzere cannot continue to live under the threat of recurring equipment failures, repeated spills or temporary interventions.
We therefore demand a comprehensive technical review of Wellhead 14 and associated infrastructure, with appropriate repairs, replacement, integrity management and preventive measures designed to eliminate the risk of recurrence.
10. ESTABLISH A FEDERAL MONITORING AND REPORTING MECHANISM
We respectfully request that a monitoring framework be established under the relevant federal authorities, with periodic reports made available to the affected community and the public regarding containment, clean-up, remediation and compensation.
OUR APPEAL TO THE DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT
We equally call upon the Executive Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, to intensify the intervention of the Delta State Government and work collaboratively with the Federal Government to protect the lives, environment and livelihoods of the people of Uzere.
We urge the State Government to ensure that relevant state ministries and agencies actively participate in environmental monitoring, public-health intervention, community engagement and the protection of affected residents.
OUR MESSAGE TO HERITAGE ENERGY OPERATIONAL SERVICES LIMITED
We respectfully call upon Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited to recognise the seriousness of the situation and demonstrate the highest standards of corporate responsibility.
The affected people should not be compelled to repeatedly plead for what ought to be treated as an emergency.
We therefore issue a 74-HOUR COMMUNITY NOTICE to the operator to demonstrate clear, visible and credible action toward:
– emergency containment of the spill;
– deployment of competent technical personnel;
– commencement of a transparent investigation;
– engagement with affected stakeholders; and
– presentation of a clear action plan for permanent remediation.
This notice is issued in the interest of peaceful resolution and prevention of further escalation.
OUR COMMITMENT TO PEACEFUL AND LAWFUL ACTION
The Concerned Uzere Oil and Gas Stakeholders Forum remains committed to peaceful, lawful and constitutional engagement.
However, should there be no meaningful response within the stated period, the community reserves the right to pursue further lawful avenues available to citizens under Nigerian law, including peaceful demonstrations, petitions to relevant regulatory and legislative authorities, public advocacy and other legitimate measures necessary to protect the community’s rights and environment.
We emphasise that our objective is not confrontation.
Our objective is justice, accountability, environmental restoration and a permanent solution.
YOUR EXCELLENCY, UZERE IS ASKING TO BE HEARD
Mr. President, the people of Uzere are not asking for preferential treatment.
We are asking for the same protection that every Nigerian citizen deserves.
We are asking that the wealth extracted from beneath our soil should not come at the permanent destruction of the soil upon which our people live.
We are asking that our rivers should remain capable of sustaining life.
We are asking that our farmers should be able to farm.
We are asking that our fishermen should be able to fish.
We are asking that our children should inherit a healthy environment rather than polluted land and water.
Most importantly, we are asking the Federal Government to demonstrate that the life of an ordinary Nigerian in an oil-producing community matters just as much as the crude oil extracted from beneath that community.
Your Excellency, history often remembers governments not merely for the wealth they generated, but for how they responded when vulnerable citizens cried out for protection.
We therefore respectfully appeal to Your Excellency to treat the Uzere Wellhead 14 incident as an urgent national environmental and humanitarian matter and direct the appropriate Federal Government institutions to act immediately.
Let the Federal Government intervene.
Let the spill be contained.
Let the environment be restored.
Let the victims receive justice.
Let Uzere live.
We respectfully await urgent action.
May justice prevail.
May peace prevail.
May the Federal Republic of Nigeria protect Uzere.
Yours faithfully,
Amb. Prince Ogologo M. O.
Coordinator
Concerned Uzere Oil and Gas Stakeholders Forum
Uzere, Isoko South LGA, Delta State, Nigeria
CC::
1. His Excellency, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, State House, Abuja.
2. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Office of the SGF, Abuja.
3. The Honourable Minister of Environment, Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja.
4. The Honourable Minister of State for Environment, Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja.
5. The Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Abuja.
6. The Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Abuja.
7. The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Abuja.
8. The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL).
9. The Executive Governor of Delta State, Government House, Asaba.
10. The Honourable Commissioner for Environment, Delta State Government, Asaba.
11. The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Port Harcourt.
12. The Chairman, Senate Committee on Upstream Petroleum Resources, National Assembly, Abuja.
13. The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Upstream Petroleum Resources, National Assembly, Abuja.
14. The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Environment, National Assembly, Abuja.
15. The Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja.
16. The National Assembly Member representing the affected constituency, National Assembly, Abuja.
17. The Chairman, Isoko South Local Government Council, Delta State.
18. The Divisional Police Officer/Relevant Security Authorities, Isoko South LGA, Delta State, for the protection of lives and maintenance of peace during lawful community engagements.
They are calling on relevant stakeholders and ministries to come to the rescue of the community by fixing failed oil and gas facilities and as well compensating the people of the community adequately to avoid huge famine in the land.