Rita Enemuru, Reporting
WARRI — A prominent environmental rights advocate has issued an urgent call for the Federal Government and Delta State authorities to declare an environmental emergency following a major oil spill that has reportedly devastated several host communities in Warri South-West and Burutu local government areas.
Comrade Sheriff Mulade PhD, a Delta State-born peace advocate and Gbaramatu chief, made the demand in a statement released on Wednesday, describing the incident as an environmental disaster with the potential to cause long-term ecological damage unless immediate intervention is undertaken.
Stonix News gathered that some of the communities badly impacted by the spill include Odidi, Kusimi, Batan, Izansa, Ajuju, Egwa, Tekedor-Kusimi, Oweizibiri-Ebisoko, Edagbene, Ogeh-Appallagbene, Iniebogbene, Ikeremor, Ikeremor-Zion, Yeye 1, Yeye 2, Ofougbene, Forcados, Kufabou, Odimodi, Gbidipou and several other Ijaw settlements across the two local government areas.
The spill is allegedly linked to facilities operated by Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd across Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 4, 26, 34, 38, 41 and 42, with crude oil transported through the Trans Forcados Pipeline (TFP).
According to the advocate, the 18-inch crude delivery pipeline, constructed in the early 1980s, has long exceeded its operational lifespan.
“It is imperative to state that the lifespan of the TFP 18-inch crude delivery pipeline was constructed in the early 1980s, which expired long ago,” Sheriff stated. “However, the Federal Government and the multinational oil companies are only interested in the crude oil and continue to pay lip service, irrespective of any health risks or challenges confronting the people in the region.”
The environmentalist warned that rivers, creeks, mangrove forests and farmlands serving as the economic lifeline of host communities have been contaminated, threatening the livelihoods of thousands of residents dependent on fishing and farming.
“This is not merely another oil spill; it is an assault on the environment, on public health, and on the survival of communities whose lives depend entirely on the natural ecosystem,” Sheriff declared. “Every hour of delay compounds the damage and deepens the suffering of innocent people.”
He lamented that fishermen have allegedly abandoned their traditional fishing grounds due to polluted waters, while farmers are witnessing the destruction of their farmlands. Women and children, he added, remain vulnerable to contaminated water sources and prolonged exposure to hydrocarbon pollution.
Sheriff accused oil operators of failing to adequately safeguard the fragile ecosystem of the Niger Delta, saying repeated oil spill incidents have continued to undermine decades of environmental conservation efforts and worsen poverty in oil-producing communities.
Demands for Action
The advocate called on Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited to immediately contain the spill, deploy emergency response teams, commence comprehensive remediation and environmental restoration in line with international best practices, and engage affected communities transparently.
He also demanded an independent Joint Investigation Visit involving regulatory agencies, host communities, environmental experts and civil society organisations to establish the cause, extent and impact of the spill.
Sheriff further urged the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Federal Ministry of Environment to urgently investigate the incident and ensure strict compliance with environmental regulations.
“Corporate responsibility cannot end with oil production,” he stated. “Companies operating in the Niger Delta must demonstrate genuine commitment to environmental stewardship and the protection of human lives. The era where communities are abandoned to suffer the consequences of pollution must end.”
He also called for immediate humanitarian assistance, medical support, environmental remediation and adequate compensation for affected residents whose livelihoods have allegedly been impacted.
Background
Oil spills remain one of the most persistent environmental challenges in the Niger Delta. Under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, petroleum operators are required to prevent pollution, respond promptly to spills and carry out remediation where environmental damage occurs.
Similarly, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (Establishment) Act, 2006 empowers NOSDRA to coordinate oil spill preparedness, monitor response efforts and ensure compliance with environmental standards across Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
Environmental organisations, including Amnesty International and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), have over the years documented the severe social, economic and ecological consequences of repeated oil spills in the Niger Delta. Their reports highlight contamination of drinking water, destruction of biodiversity, loss of livelihoods and prolonged health risks for residents, while stressing the need for stronger regulation, timely remediation and corporate accountability.
Sheriff warned that failure by operators and government regulators to act swiftly could worsen environmental degradation and heighten social tension in already vulnerable communities.
As of the time of filing this report, Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, NOSDRA and the NUPRC had not publicly responded to SheriWARRIff’s allegations regarding the reported spill.
