Environmental rights activist and peace advocate, Chief Sheriff Mulade, has called on the Federal Government, the Delta State Government and relevant regulatory agencies to declare an environmental emergency over a reported massive oil spill affecting communities in Warri South-West and Burutu Local Government Areas of Delta State.
Mulade, in a statement issued on Wednesday, described the incident as a major environmental disaster, warning that failure to respond promptly could result in irreversible ecological damage and worsen the humanitarian situation in the affected communities.
He alleged that the spill originated from facilities operated by Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited across Oil Mining Leases 4, 26, 34, 38, 41 and 42, with crude transported through the Trans Forcados Pipeline.
According to him, the 18-inch Trans Forcados Pipeline, constructed in the early 1980s, has exceeded its expected lifespan, alleging that authorities and oil operators have continued to prioritise crude oil production without adequately addressing environmental and public health concerns in the Niger Delta.
Mulade said the spill had allegedly polluted rivers, creeks, mangrove forests and farmlands that serve as the main source of livelihood for residents, leaving thousands of fishermen and farmers at risk.
He said, "This is not just another oil spill. It is an assault on the environment, public health and the survival of communities whose livelihoods depend entirely on the natural ecosystem. Every hour of delay worsens the damage and the suffering of innocent people."
The activist further alleged that many fishermen had abandoned their fishing grounds because of polluted waters, while several farmlands had been destroyed. He added that women and children were particularly vulnerable due to prolonged exposure to contaminated water sources.
Mulade accused oil operators of failing to protect the fragile Niger Delta ecosystem, saying repeated oil spills had continued to undermine environmental conservation efforts and deepen poverty in oil-producing communities.
He urged Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited to immediately contain the spill, deploy emergency response teams, begin environmental remediation in line with international standards and engage affected communities transparently throughout the process.
He also demanded an independent Joint Investigation Visit involving regulatory agencies, host communities, environmental experts and civil society organisations to determine the cause, extent and impact of the incident.
Mulade called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and the Federal Ministry of Environment to urgently investigate the reported spill and enforce compliance with environmental regulations.
He further appealed for immediate humanitarian relief, medical assistance, environmental restoration and adequate compensation for residents whose livelihoods had allegedly been affected.
As of the time of filing this report, Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission had yet to respond to the allegations.
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