Oil Spill Crisis: IYC, Odidi Community Ground OML 42 Operations Over Humanitarian Emergency

By Joseph Bienbo, Warri

The President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Dr. Doubra Okotete, and the Chairman of Odidi Federated Community, Amb. Truston Gbenekama had mobilized Residents of the community to shut down the OML-42 Flow Station over a prolonged oil spill pollution leading the death of a Middle aged woman.

The leaders, alongside women, youths, and fishermen from the host community, shut down operations at the facility to demand immediate clean-up, remediation, and compensation for affected residents.

According to the protesters, the crude oil spill, which has lasted for over seven months, had devastated aquatic life, farmlands, and waterways in Odidi, in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.

They alleged that the pollution, traced to the Trans-Forcados Pipeline around the Keremor Manifold, operated by Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL) within OML-42, has now escalated beyond Odidi and spread to the Forcados and Gbaramatu Rivers, affecting several other Ijaw fishing communities in both Warri South-West and Burutu Local Government Areas.

Speaking during the shut down action, Dr. Okotete described the situation as an environmental emergency and a gross neglect of host communities, noting that Odidi had contributed immensely to the national economy but continued to bear the brunt of oil exploitation without justice.

In the same vein, Amb. Gbenekama said fishing, which is the mainstay of the community, had been crippled, with drinking water contaminated, fishing nets destroyed and health risks on the rise, while relief materials provided so far have been grossly inadequate.

The protesters demanded immediate containment and comprehensive clean-up of the impacted Odidi, Forcados, and Gbaramatu rivers and creeks;
Independent Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) with findings made public by NOSDRA; Full environmental remediation and medical support for affected residents.

Other demands including adequate compensation for loss of livelihoods, fishing equipment and farmlands,Immediate intervention by the Federal Government, NUPRC, NOSDRA, and Delta State Government.

They warned that operations at the OML-42 Flow Station would remain shut until the operator takes concrete steps to stop the spill, clean up the environment, and address the welfare of the impacted federated communities.

However, the Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL) is yet to issue an official statement on the shutdown.