The Opuama and Tsekelewu communities in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State are on the brink of shutting down the Opuama Flow Station in OML 40. The communities have issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Nigerian Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL), formerly the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), demanding an immediate cleanup of an oil spill that has devastated their environment since October 28, 2023.
The communities, renowned for their contributions to Delta State’s oil and gas production, allege neglect by NEPL and other stakeholders despite their pivotal role in the sector. Their call for action is backed by a protest letter dated April 27, 2024, signed by community leaders including Elder Yokori Zebulum, Elder Dick Toru, and Comrade Egbor Michael, among others.
In the letter, the leaders expressed frustration over NEPL’s failure to address the spill, which they say was confirmed to be caused by a pipeline failure during a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) involving NEPL and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA). They revealed that multiple appeals, including a letter on April 24, 2024, have been ignored, leaving their communities to suffer from polluted water sources, contaminated food, and health crises.
“Our people are forced to use polluted water for cooking, drinking, and bathing, and consume contaminated fish and plants. This has caused severe health issues and reduced life expectancy,” the letter stated. The leaders also highlighted the dire impact of the spill on the local ecosystem and livelihoods, emphasizing the urgency for NEPL to act.
The protest letter outlines three key demands: an immediate cleanup of the spill, the provision of medical aid to affected residents, and fair negotiations with the communities regarding compensation and long-term remediation. While acknowledging that NEPL had sent minimal relief materials, the communities dismissed these efforts as inadequate.
Warning of potential disruptions, the letter gave NEPL a five-day deadline to address their demands for proper negotiations. Failure to comply, they stated, would leave them no choice but to take drastic actions against the company’s operations.
The communities are also calling on the National Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), NOSDRA, and the Delta State Ministry of Oil and Gas to intervene promptly. They demand that NEPL complete the cleanup before December 20, 2024, to avoid a total shutdown of the Opuama Flow Station, an action they say is necessary to draw attention to their plight and ensure justice.
