Oil Spill: Delta Communities Threaten Shut Down Of Heritage Operations, Appeal To Commissioner For Oil, Gas To Intervene

By Sunday Onye, Senior Correspondent

Following the oil spill in OML42 in Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State, some negatively impacted host communities have accused the Heritage Oil Firm of sidelining them in the JIV inspection.

The protesting communities had called on the commissioner for oil and gas, Hon. Oyibode Velvet to quickly intervene to avoid a shutdown of the company’s operations.

Congress gathered that Tekedor-Kusimi, Eweregbene, Egwa ll, Dudiegha, Ajelegbene, Borbor and Double communities were negatively affected by the recent oil spill in the area but the Heritage Oil Company is denying them of being captured as affected communities.

Speaking to our correspondent, a community leader Thompson Tekedor said their Rivers and fishing activities had been disrupted greatly by the Heritage Oil spill in OML42, adding that they would resist every attempt to shortchange them.

He said the company came for JIV inspection but refused to visit their communities for capturing despite witnessing the extension of the oil spill to such communities.

Tekedor said the commissioner for oil and gas should intervene to arrest the situation to avoid blaming host communities for a possible breakdown of law and order.