FEATURED

Oil Spill: Oborevwori Assures Uzere Community of Govt Support, Medical Care

Published

22 minutes ago

October 30, 2026

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori during an on-the-spot assessment of oil spill sites in Uzere.

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has assured the people of Uzere Kingdom in Isoko South Local Government Area of government support over the recent oil spill in the community.

The governor gave the assurance on Friday during an on-the-spot assessment of oil spill sites in Uzere.

Oborevwori said he was at the location to see the extent of damage and obtain first-hand information to guide government engagement with the operating company, Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL).

According to him, his administration had been monitoring developments in Uzere and Odidi communities through reports from officials and community leaders but decided to visit personally for proper assessment.

He recalled that after a similar spill in Odidi, the state government deployed over 100 medical personnel to attend to residents, adding that same medical intervention would be extended to Uzere.

The governor directed the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, to deploy health teams to Uzere town and affected communities to conduct medical examinations and address possible health implications.

He disclosed that government had engaged Heritage Energy, which explained steps taken to contain the spill, noting that the company had already commenced cleanup operations after preliminary engagement with host communities.

Oborevwori, however, insisted that cleanup must be followed by full environmental remediation, urging the company to sustain dialogue with the communities and address their legitimate concerns.

“Delay is not denial. There are procedures and processes, and that is the reason for any delay. I am here with Commissioners for Oil and Gas, Environment, 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.

He commended the people of Uzere for maintaining peace despite the incident and urged Heritage Energy to show greater commitment to host communities.

Earlier, Manager, Government and Community Relations of HEOSL, Dr. Jeremiah Oharisi, said the company received report of gas build-up at the well on June 27.

Manager, Government and Community Relations of HEOSL, Dr. Jeremiah Oharisi briefing Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, on the leakage incident, on Friday, in Uzere community

He explained that the well has two production strings – Lima and Syria – shut down in 2019 and 2023 respectively, making it inactive before gas accumulated in the reservoir, forced its way to the surface and caused crude escape.

Oharisi said the company activated emergency response, including securing the area, sensitising the community, evacuating residents and deploying fire trucks.

However, President-General of Uzere Kingdom, Chief Edward Onyagbodor, lamented that the company’s intervention was limited to palliatives estimated at N10.2 million to N10.6 million.

Former President-General of Isoko Development Union (IDU), Chief Iduh Amadhe, urged the governor to prevail on Heritage Energy to show more commitment to welfare of host communities.

Amadhe disclosed that OML 30 operated by Heritage has 112 host communities comprising 89 Urhobo, 13 Isoko, 6 Ijaw and 4 Itsekiri communities.