Chidinma Patricia
The Egbokodo Community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State has called on Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, HEOSL, to immediately clean up the oil spill from OML30 Crude Trunk line which is operated by the HEOSL, saying it had robbed the indigenes and other residents of the community of clean water for drinking and fishing which is a means of livelihood for the community.
It was gathered that the oil spill which started four days earlier from a neighboring community has polluted the water line in Egbokodo and extended beyond the Itsekiri community, allegedly without any control by the HEOSL management.
The OML30 Crude Trunk Line connects the Trans-Forcados Pipeline.
Austin Tete, the Chairman of Egbokodo Community Trust, who spoke exclusively to freshangle, stated that he will not allow the Egbokodo indigenes and other residents of the community suffer the dangerous consequences of the spill, saying people of Egbokodo don’t engage in economic sabotage.
According to the Chairman, the community is ready to battle the HEOSL management if they fail to carry out the immediate clean-up of the affected areas. He also called on the Delta State Government, security agencies and other relevant bodies to prevail on HEOSL to do what’s necessary to stop the oil flow, provide relief materials and pay compensations.
He tasked the management of HEOSL to immediately halt the spill, clean up the affected areas and compensate the people of Egbokodo Community in order for the smooth relationship between Egbokodo Community and the company to continue.
Emmanuel Ofeoritse Adjisha, the youth Chairman of Egbokodo Community also expressed his concern over the oil spill, disclosing that HEOSL has ascertained the point of the spill while noting that the company’s response is slow, saying they were surprised to observe the spill in their community, claiming it also occurred at Ugbokodo in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State.
Also speaking, Amorighoye Eric Afejuku, the Treasurer of Egbokodo Community Trust, urged HEOSL to commence immediate clean-up of the entire area and provide relief materials to Egbokodo indigenes.
