The Delta State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting host communities following the recent oil spill at Oil Mining Lease (OML) 30 in Uzere Kingdom, Isoko South Local Government Area.
Leading a government delegation to the affected area on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Hon. (Chief) Peter Uviejitobor, conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the incident and assured residents that urgent measures were already underway to contain the spill and mitigate its environmental impact.
Addressing community leaders, youths, and residents at the spill site, Uviejitobor appealed for calm, stressing that the administration of Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori was working closely with Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL) and relevant regulatory agencies to bring the situation under control.
“I want to appeal to our people in Uzere Kingdom to remain calm. The Delta State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, is on top of the situation. We are working closely with Heritage Energy and all relevant regulatory agencies to ensure that the spill is contained and the environment is remediated,” the commissioner said.
He disclosed that preliminary findings showed the incident was reported promptly and that emergency response teams had already been deployed to halt further leakage and commence containment efforts.
Uviejitobor emphasized that the Oborevwori administration places a high priority on the welfare of host communities and the protection of the Niger Delta environment. He reiterated the government’s determination to ensure that oil companies operating in Delta State comply with global best practices in oil exploration, production, and environmental management.
“His Excellency is deeply concerned about the plight of our people. No community will be left to bear the consequences of oil operations alone. We will ensure that HEOSL and the relevant regulators do the right thing regarding proper containment, clean-up, and compensation where necessary,” he added.
The commissioner further revealed that the Ministry of Oil and Gas, in collaboration with the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Delta State Ministry of Environment, had activated its incident response mechanism to monitor developments and assess the extent of the damage to farmlands, water sources, and aquatic life.
Community representatives from Uzere Kingdom commended the Delta State Government for its swift intervention, expressing optimism that the prompt response would help minimize the environmental and socioeconomic impact of the spill.
