Environmental activists have berated the Federal and Delta State Government for allowing a Wellhead oil spill in Uzere community, located in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State to continue spewing more than a month after locals noticed it and raised the alarm.
Uzere community has a long history of oil exploration activities and spill incidents. It is adjudged the second location where oil was found in Nigeria shortly after Oloibiri in present day Bayelsa State. The latest incident adds to the growing list of environmental challenges facing the Niger Delta region, where decades of oil extraction have left a legacy of pollution and ecological damage.
The catastrophic oil spill that has thrown Uzere into turmoil started with equipment failure at the facility owned by Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL) on Saturday, June 27, 2026. The incident has left a trail of destruction, displacing residents and devastating the livelihoods of hundreds of families in the affected area.
Most affected is Uheri quarter where crops have been destroyed, aquatic life decimated, and citizens forced to abandon their homes and belongings.
In a statement made available to newsmen, a host of environmental activists have condemned the owner of the facility for abdicating responsibility and the government for looking unseriousness.
BENIN RICHARD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVOCACY FOUNDATION (CODAF)
Speaking on behalf of civil society organizations monitoring the crisis, Benin Richard expressed grave concern over the slow pace of response.
“What we are witnessing in Uzere is nothing short of an environmental emergency. This equipment failure has unleashed a catastrophe that will take years to remedy. Our hearts go out to the people of Uheri quarter in the Uzere Kingdom who have lost their farmlands, their source of livelihood, and their homes.
We learnt the company has reached out to the community, but their response has been far from proactive. This is not the time for half-measures; this is a moment that demands urgency, transparency, and genuine commitment to restoration. We cannot continue to treat these spills as isolated incidents when they represent a pattern of negligence that has plagued our oil-producing communities for decades.”
DR. MAIMONI UBREI-JOE, CHAIRMAN, ISOKO ENVIRONMENT MONITORING COMMITTEE (IEMC) AND DIRECTOR OF CLIMATE JUSTICE, ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDERS NETWORK (EDEN)
Dr. Ubrei-Joe, whose committee has been at the forefront of environmental monitoring in the region, called for immediate and comprehensive action.
“I have witnessed firsthand the devastation that oil spills inflict on our communities. The Uzere incident is a stark reminder of why we must remain vigilant. The joint investigation visit was a necessary first step, but we cannot afford to stop there. Heritage Company must move beyond token gestures and demonstrate genuine commitment to the people of Uheri quarter.
Environmental restoration must begin immediately, not weeks or months from now. The aquatic life that sustained our fishermen is gone, the crops that fed our families are destroyed, and our people have been displaced from their ancestral homes. This is not merely an environmental issue; it is a human rights crisis that demands a coordinated response from both the company and the government.”
PHILIP JAKPOR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, REVENLYN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (RDI)
Philip Jakpor, whose organization has been involved in community development and advocacy in the Niger Delta, emphasized the need for systemic solutions.
“The Uzere oil spill is yet another chapter in the long and painful history of environmental degradation in the Niger Delta. The people of Uheri quarter have paid the price for oil extraction with their health, their livelihoods, and their environment. The joint investigation visit confirms the severity of the situation, but we must ask: what next? Heritage Company’s outreach to the community, while noted, has been insufficient. We need a comprehensive plan that includes environmental remediation, compensation for affected families, and a thorough investigation into the root cause of this equipment failure. The era of impunity must end. This is not a battle between the company and the community, it is a battle for justice, for sustainability, and for the future of our people.”
OSARIODION ANDREW UGBOGBO, MEDIA / COMMUNICATION’S LEAD, TO THE CONVENER, NGOS FOR A BETTER DELTA
As convener of a coalition of NGOs working for a better Delta, Osariodion Andrew Ugbogbo on behalf of the convener called for a broader, more inclusive approach to resolving the crisis.
“This oil spill is a tragedy, but it is also an opportunity for all stakeholders to come together and chart a new path forward. We are calling for a Town Hall meeting to address this issue in its entirety—an inclusive forum where the Uzere community, the company, government agencies, and civil society can engage in honest dialogue.
Beyond immediate relief, we need long-term solutions: a thorough investigation into the cause of the spill, a comprehensive environmental restoration program, and fair compensation for all victims. Heritage must be held accountable, but the government also has a responsibility to ensure that our regulatory frameworks are strengthened and enforced”.
CHIMA WILLIAMS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDERS NETWORK (EDEN)
This impunity that has gone on for more than a month must not be allowed to continue. The failure of the operators of the Wellhead to clamp the blow-out has already led to forced displacements in Uzere.
The government at Federal and state level must not allow the polluter to continue looking away and feigning helplessness in the face of their assault on the environment in the community.
IDOWU ESEKU, NIGER DELTA YOUTH ACTIVIST
The Uzere incident shows that we have a government that seems to prioritize profits over human life and a habitable environment. The Uzere spill reinforces our position that while oil and gas sustain Nigeria, the Niger Delta which produces the golden egg has been on the receiving end of oil incidents.
Community leaders have wasted no time in demanding accountability, writing to the company to swiftly address the situation and warning residents to relocate their goods from the danger zone.
As of press time, Heritage Company has not issued an official statement on the incident, but stakeholders are hopeful that the company will respond positively to the calls for urgent action.
ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Declaration of a State of Emergency in the affected areas to facilitate rapid response and resource mobilization.
2. Establishment of an Emergency Relief Fund to provide immediate support to displaced families and affected individuals.
3. Independent Forensic Investigation into the equipment failure, with findings made public.
4. Community Health Assessment to monitor and address potential health impacts on residents.
5. Regular Public Updates on the progress of remediation efforts.
6. Strengthening of Environmental Regulations to prevent future occurrences.
7. Capacity Building for community members on environmental monitoring and advocacy.
8. Legal Support for affected community members seeking justice and compensation.
9. Development of a Comprehensive Disaster Management Plan for oil-producing communities.
10. Establishment of a Multi-Stakeholder Oversight Committee to ensure accountability throughout the restoration process.
