ODIDI OIL SPILL: HERITAGE ENERGY MUST ACT NOW! RIGHTS ACTIVIST EBIS QUESTIONS DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE : A DEMAND FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND IMMEDIATE ACTION

Comrade Ebis Martha, Rights Activist with the Organization for Human and People’s Rights Protection and Humanitarian (OHPRPH), has accused Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, operator of OML 30, of misleading the Delta State Government over the reported oil spill in Odidi. She questioned whether the proposed clamping measures would genuinely stop the pollution or merely buy the company more time while the environment, waterways and farmlands remain at risk. She called on the company to immediately contain the spill, take responsibility for the damage and provide clear assurances that further pollution will not occur.

 Comrade Ebis Martha who is currently at Odidi Community has expressed her concerns over the response to the incident, stressing that government palliatives and medical interventions cannot replace immediate containment, environmental remediation and corporate accountability.

“It is concerning that government hospitals already struggling with shortages of essential medicines, including antibiotics, may have to stretch their limited resources to address an environmental crisis linked to oil operations. While the health of affected residents must remain a priority, Heritage Energy must fulfil its responsibilities, and the Delta State Government must ensure that public healthcare resources are not further strained at the expense of ordinary citizens.”

She further questioned the effectiveness of the reported clamping measures, demanding clear answers on whether the source of the spill has been contained and what concrete steps are being taken to protect the affected communities, waterways and farmlands.

She again stated that the visit of the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, must not be interpreted as permission for pollution to continue or as a substitute for effective environmental protection 

If meaningful action is not taken, civil society organisations may pursue lawful  advocacy, formal petitions and engagement with relevant national and international institutions.

Section 20 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, provides:

“The State shall protect and improve the environment and safeguard the water, air and land, forest and wild life of Nigeria.”

Furthermore, Article 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which has been incorporated into Nigerian law, provides:

“All peoples shall have the right to a general satisfactory environment favourable to their development.”

These provisions reinforce the importance of protecting communities from environmental degradation and ensuring that economic activities do not disregard the welfare of the people.

The people of Odidi should not have to choose between their health, their livelihoods and the continuation of oil operations in their environment.

The people of Delta State deserve to understand how these resources are being deployed, what support the responsible company is providing, and what measures are in place to ensure that the state does not bear an unfair share of the financial burden.

Delta State must learn from the previous oil spill disasters in Nigeria She warned!!

The oil spills in Bodo, Rivers State, in 2008 caused extensive damage to the community’s waterways and fishing livelihoods. The subsequent legal proceedings resulted in a £55 million settlement announced in 2015, covering compensation for affected individuals and a community fund. The case demonstrated the importance of accountability, compensation and environmental cleanup.

Similarly, the United Nations Environment Programme’s 2011 assessment of Ogoniland documented extensive oil contamination affecting land, waterways and drinking water. Its findings highlighted the serious and long-lasting consequences of environmental pollution and the enormous task involved in restoring damaged ecosystems.

These cases are important reminders that delayed action can deepen the suffering of communities and make environmental restoration more complicated and costly.

Odidi must not become another example of a community left to endure prolonged pollution while the consequences continue to accumulate.

We therefore demand:

1. Immediate containment of the spill and prevention of further pollution.

2. A transparent investigation into the incident.

3. Independent environmental assessment and appropriate remediation.

4. Accountability and compensation for affected persons where liability is established.

5. A clear public update on the measures and timeline for resolving the crisis.

Delta State must not sacrifice environmental justice for temporary relief. Corporate responsibility must not be replaced by government palliatives. And the suffering of affected communities must never become an acceptable cost of oil production.