Odidi Receives Relief Materials From Heritage Energy 6 Months After Oil Spill, Says Materials Inadequate •“What We Got Can’t Cushion The Damage” •Demands Review, Says Items Too Few For OML 42 Sub-Communities

By Joseph Bienbo, Warri

Warri – After six months of grappling with the effects of an oil spill in the OML 42 operating area, the Odidi Federated Community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State has finally received relief materials from Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, HEOSL.

But community leaders say the intervention came too late and is grossly inadequate to address the devastation suffered by residents across the numerous sub-communities in the asset.

Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday, the women and youths of the community lamented that while they appreciated the gesture, the quantity of relief materials distributed “cannot go round” and fails to cushion the economic, health, and environmental losses caused by the spill.

According to the community, the oil spill occurred about six months ago and affected fishing waters, farmlands, drinking sources, and the general livelihood of residents in Odidi and its surrounding sub-communities within OML 42.

“The spill crippled fishing, our main occupation. Our waters were polluted, our nets came back empty, and families have been struggling to feed since then,” a community representative said.

Residents also alleged cases of skin irritations, respiratory issues, and loss of income among youths and women who depend on fishing and small-scale trading.

The Odidi Federated Community confirmed that Heritage Energy recently delivered relief materials to the area. However, representatives said the items were not commensurate with the scale of damage and the number of people affected.

“The relief materials we received cannot cushion the effects of the spill suffered by our communities,” the statement read. “The quantity cannot go round the numerous sub-communities under Odidi Federated Community in OML 42.”

The community noted that Odidi is made up of several villages and riverine settlements, all of which were impacted by the spill but were not adequately captured in the distribution plan.

Consequently, the Odidi Federated Community had called on Heritage Energy, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, and NNPC Limited to urgently review the relief package.