OML 42: Odidi Community Threatens Shutdown of Heritage Energy Operations Over Worsening Oil Spill

By Ezekiel Kagbala

WARRI, DELTA Tension is mounting in oil-rich Odidi Community, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, as community leaders, women and youths have mobilised against Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL) over a worsening crude oil spill which they say has polluted rivers, creeks and fishing grounds and placed the lives of residents at risk.

The community, which hosts oil operations within the OML 42 area, stormed the company's operational facility on Friday, August 29, 2026, in a peaceful protest led by the community leadership of Prince Preye Okrikpa, represented by the Secretary, Mr. Clement Numa, and the Public Relations Officer, Comrade Konkemele Michael.

The protesters warned that unless the company urgently stops the continuing discharge of crude oil and takes immediate steps to contain the spill, they would be forced to shut down Heritage Energy's operations in the area.

The community alleged that the spill, which they traced to an aged and corroded section of the Trans-Forcados Pipeline around the crude oil loading point at the Keremor manifold, has persisted for about six months, with large volumes of crude allegedly continuing to enter the surrounding waterways.

According to the protesters, the pollution has devastated fishing grounds and other traditional sources of livelihood, while residents are increasingly exposed to health and safety risks.

They also expressed concern that the continued presence of crude oil in the waterways could trigger a major fire outbreak, potentially resulting in catastrophic loss of lives and property.

Addressing journalists during the protest, the community's PRO, Comrade Konkemele Michael, described the action as a warning to Heritage Energy, the Federal Government, the National Assembly and relevant regulatory agencies to intervene before the situation escalates.

“This is a warning visit and a peaceful protest for us to send the message across to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly and all regulatory bodies that we will commence drastic action if they do not stop further operations until they curtail the spill,” Michael said.

He alleged that the pollution had taken over the community's waterways and displaced some residents, while others had reportedly been hospitalised.

“The oil pollution has taken over the entire community for the past six months and the entire river has been taken over,” he said.

Michael further described the incident as one of the most serious oil spills witnessed in the Niger Delta in recent years, accusing the company of continuing its normal operations despite the alleged environmental emergency.

He alleged that crude oil was still flowing from the affected point, raising fears of a possible fire outbreak.

“We have lost a mother and four children in 2015. Now the worse is about to happen in 2026,” he said, urging the authorities to prevent another tragedy.

The community leader also accused Heritage Energy of allegedly attempting to address the crisis through selective distribution of relief materials rather than tackling the alleged source of the pollution.

He claimed that some residents had started leaving the community because of fears over the possibility of fire, while alleging that a local contractor engaged by the company had been using a wooden boat without making meaningful progress in containing the spill.

The Secretary of Odidi Community, Mr. Clement Numa, said the community was becoming increasingly frustrated by what he described as the failure to adequately contain the spill.

Numa questioned why oil production activities should continue while crude was allegedly still escaping into the environment.

“You cannot continue working when oil is still gushing out. The spill should be curtailed immediately,” he said.

He also raised concerns about the effectiveness of regulatory sanctions for oil spills, alleging that some operators may consider financial penalties insufficient to compel rapid remediation.

According to him, oil spills are expected to be reported to the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) within the prescribed regulatory timeframe, while failure to comply attracts sanctions.

Numa argued that the community needed more than relief materials, insisting that the priority should be to stop the source of the pollution, recover the affected environment and protect residents.

He further accused Heritage Energy of allegedly exploiting divisions within the community by dealing selectively with individuals and groups.

The community secretary alleged that selected persons had received food items, including rice and vegetable oil, as well as undisclosed sums of money, which he claimed was being used to deflect attention from the environmental crisis.

“The company is trying to avoid the environmental crime being committed against Odidi people,” Numa alleged.

Livelihoods Under Threat

Residents and community leaders said the prolonged pollution had severely affected fishing activities, which remain a major source of income and food for households in the riverine community.

They called on Heritage Energy, the Federal Government, NOSDRA, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Delta State Government to urgently undertake a comprehensive investigation and remediation exercise.

The community also demanded medical intervention for residents allegedly exposed to the pollution, environmental impact assessment, restoration of contaminated waterways and transparent monitoring of the cleanup process.

The protesters maintained that their action was peaceful but warned that continued inaction could lead to a complete shutdown of Heritage Energy's operations in the area.

They appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to intervene before the situation develops into a larger environmental and humanitarian crisis.

As of the time of filing this report, the allegations made by the community had not been independently verified, and Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited had not publicly responded to the specific allegations contained in the protesters' statements.

The community leadership said it remained open to dialogue but insisted that dialogue must be accompanied by immediate measures to stop the spill and protect the lives and livelihoods of Odidi residents.

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