Environmental rights activist and peace advocate, Chief Mulade Sheriff, PhD, has called on the Federal Government, Delta State Government and relevant regulatory agencies to declare an environmental emergency following a reported Oil Spillage affecting several host communities in Warri South-West and Burutu Local Government Areas of Delta State.
Key Highlights
Mulade calls for an immediate environmental emergency declaration over the reported oil spill.
Communities in Warri South-West and Burutu LGAs are allegedly affected.
Spill is linked to facilities operated by Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, according to Mulade.
Rivers, creeks, mangroves and farmlands are reportedly contaminated.
Environmentalist urges urgent investigation by NOSDRA and NUPRC.
Calls for humanitarian assistance, environmental remediation and compensation for affected residents.
Heritage Energy, NOSDRA and NUPRC had not responded to the allegations as of press time.
In a statement, Mulade described the reported incident as a major environmental disaster capable of causing long-term ecological damage if urgent intervention is not undertaken.
According to him, the alleged spill is linked to facilities operated by Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited across Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 4, 26, 34, 38, 41 and 42, with crude oil transported through the Trans Forcados Pipeline (TFP).
Mulade further alleged that the 18-inch Trans Forcados Pipeline, constructed in the early 1980s, has exceeded its operational lifespan, arguing that continued reliance on the ageing infrastructure poses serious environmental and public health risks.
He accused both government authorities and oil operators of focusing primarily on crude oil production while paying insufficient attention to the environmental and health challenges confronting communities in the Niger Delta.
The environmental advocate warned that rivers, creeks, mangrove forests and farmlands, which serve as the economic lifeline of the affected communities, have reportedly been contaminated, threatening the livelihoods of thousands of residents who depend 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. Every hour of delay compounds the damage and deepens the suffering of innocent people,” Mulade said.
He lamented that many fishermen have allegedly abandoned their traditional fishing grounds because of polluted waters, while farmers are witnessing the destruction of their farmlands.
Mulade added that women and children remain particularly vulnerable due to exposure to contaminated water sources and prolonged hydrocarbon pollution.
He also accused oil operators of failing to adequately protect the fragile Niger Delta ecosystem, saying repeated oil spill incidents have continued to undermine environmental conservation efforts while worsening poverty across oil-producing communities.
The environmental activist urged Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited to immediately contain the alleged spill, deploy emergency response teams, commence comprehensive remediation and environmental restoration, and engage affected host communities transparently.
Mulade further called for an independent Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) involving regulatory agencies, host communities, environmental experts and civil society organisations to establish the cause, extent and impact of the reported spill.
He appealed to 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 full compliance with Nigeria’s environmental regulations.
“Corporate responsibility cannot end with oil production. 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 said.
Mulade also demanded immediate humanitarian assistance, medical support, environmental remediation and adequate compensation for residents whose livelihoods have allegedly been affected by the reported pollution.
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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 enforce compliance with environmental standards across Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
Environmental organisations, including Amnesty International and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), have consistently documented the severe social, economic and ecological consequences of repeated oil spills in the Niger Delta, highlighting contamination of drinking water, destruction of biodiversity, loss of livelihoods and long-term health risks.
Mulade warned that failure by operators and government regulators to act swiftly could worsen environmental degradation and heighten social tensions 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 Mulade’s allegations regarding the reported oil spill. Their responses will be published when received.
