By Oghenefejiro Emado
10, July 2026
A leading environmental and peace advocate from Delta State, Chief Mulade Sheriff, has urgently called on the Federal Government, the Delta State Government, and all relevant regulatory bodies to declare a state of environmental emergency.
The demand follows a major oil spill that is said to have affected multiple host communities in Warri South-West and Burutu Local Government Areas.
In a statement released signed by Mulade, he described the incident as an environmental catastrophe.
He warned that without immediate action, the damage to the ecosystem could be irreversible.
He alleged that the spill is connected to facilities run by Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited.
The affected assets cut across Oil Mining Leases OMLs 4, 26, 34, 38, 41, and 42. Crude oil from these areas is moved through the Trans Forcados Pipeline, TFP.
Mulade pointedly criticized the age of the pipeline. He noted that the 18-inch crude delivery line was built in the early 1980s, meaning its operational lifespan has long expired.
According to him, the Federal Government and multinational oil firms remain focused only on crude extraction. He accused them of paying “lip service” to the health and safety challenges faced by Niger Delta residents.
The advocate said the spill has already contaminated key natural resources. Rivers, creeks, mangrove forests, and farmlands that serve as the economic base for local communities are reportedly polluted.
“This is not merely another oil spill; it is an assault on the environment, on public health, and on the survival of communities whose lives depend entirely on the natural ecosystem. Every hour of delay compounds the damage and deepens the suffering of innocent people,” Mulade stated.
He reported that fishermen have been forced to abandon their fishing grounds because the waters are polluted. Farmers are also said to be losing crops as their lands are damaged adding that Women and children are most at risk from drinking contaminated water and from long-term exposure to hydrocarbon pollutants.
Mulade accused oil operators of repeatedly failing to protect the fragile Niger Delta environment. He said the cycle of spills is eroding years of conservation work and deepening poverty in oil-producing areas.
*He listed specific demands:
Emergency Containment:*
*
1) Heritage Energy should immediately stop the spill and deploy response teams.
2. Full Remediation The company must carry out comprehensive cleanup and environmental restoration using international standards, and engage communities openly.
3. Independent Investigation: An unbiased Joint Investigation Visit, JIV, should be conducted with regulators, host communities, environmental experts, and civil society groups to determine the cause, scale, and impact.
4. Regulatory Action: Agencies including NOSDRA, NUPRC, and the Federal Ministry of Environment must investigate urgently and enforce compliance.
5. Relief for Victims Immediate humanitarian aid, medical support, environmental cleanup, and fair compensation for affected residents.
“Corporate responsibility cannot end with oil production. Companies operating in the Niger Delta must demonstrate genuine commitment to environmental stewardship and the protection of human lives. The era where communities are abandoned to suffer the consequences of pollution must end,” he said.
*Background and Legal Context*
He explained that Oil spills continue to be a major environmental problem in the Niger Delta. Under the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, 2021, oil companies are required to prevent pollution, respond quickly to spills, and remediate damaged areas.
He further explained that the NOSDRA Act of 2006 also gives the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency the mandate to coordinate spill response and enforce standards.
International bodies such as Amnesty International and UNEP have documented the severe effects of repeated spills in the region and he said their findings include contaminated drinking water, loss of biodiversity, destroyed livelihoods, and long-term health risks for residents.
They have consistently called for stronger regulation, faster cleanup, and greater corporate accountability.
Mulade warned that slow response from operators and regulators could worsen environmental decay and increase tension in already fragile communities.
As of press time, Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, NOSDRA, and NUPRC had not issued public statements on the allegations. FocalPoint Reports says it will publish their responses when available.
