𝗗𝗿. 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗢𝗶𝗹 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗜𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

𝗕𝘆 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲,

𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮, 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮.

Delta State-born environmental rights advocate and peace campaigner, Chief (Comrade) Mulade Sheriff, PhD, has called on the Federal Government, the Delta State Government, and relevant regulatory agencies to immediately declare an environmental emergency following a reported major oil spill affecting several host communities in Warri South-West and Burutu Local Government Areas of Delta State.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Mulade described the incident as an environmental disaster with the potential to cause severe ecological damage and long-term socio-economic hardship if urgent action is not taken.

According to him, the reported 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 alleged that the 18-inch Trans Forcados Pipeline, constructed in the early 1980s, has outlived its operational lifespan, accusing both the Federal Government and multinational oil companies of prioritising crude oil production while neglecting the environmental and health concerns of host communities.

He warned that the reported spill has contaminated rivers, creeks, mangrove forests and farmlands, threatening the livelihoods of thousands of residents who depend on fishing and farming for survival.

"This is not merely another oil spill; it is an assault on the environment, public health and 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," he said.

Mulade further alleged that fishermen have abandoned their fishing grounds due to polluted waters, while farmers are experiencing the destruction of farmlands. He also expressed concern that women and children remain exposed to contaminated water sources and the health risks associated with hydrocarbon pollution.

He criticised oil operators for what he described as their failure to adequately protect the fragile Niger Delta ecosystem, noting that recurring oil spills continue to undermine environmental conservation efforts and worsen poverty in oil-producing communities.

The environmental advocate urged Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited to immediately contain the spill, deploy emergency response teams, begin comprehensive environmental remediation and restoration, and engage affected communities transparently.

He also called for an independent Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) involving regulatory agencies, host communities, environmental experts and civil society organisations to determine the cause, extent and impact of the reported spill.

Mulade 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 enforce compliance with environmental regulations.

He stressed that corporate responsibility should extend beyond crude oil production, insisting that companies operating in the Niger Delta must demonstrate genuine commitment to environmental protection and the welfare of host communities.

In addition, Mulade called for immediate humanitarian assistance, medical support, environmental remediation and adequate compensation for residents whose livelihoods have allegedly been affected.

He warned that failure by oil operators and regulatory authorities to respond swiftly could worsen environmental degradation and increase social tension across already vulnerable communities.

As of the time of filing this report, Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, NOSDRA and the NUPRC had not issued any official response to the allegations surrounding the reported oil spill.