The Chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, Hon. (Comr.) Friday Ovoke Warri, has commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for his prompt intervention following the recent oil spill at Uzere, particularly his directive for the immediate deployment of medical personnel to attend to affected residents.
Warri also praised the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for its swift response and commitment to assessing the extent of damage caused by the incident.
The council chairman made the commendations when a delegation of NEMA officials and other relevant agencies paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Oleh, the headquarters of Isoko South Local Government Area.
The oil spill, which occurred at Uzere Well 14, has reportedly devastated farmlands, aquatic life and properties, raising serious concerns over its impact on the livelihoods of residents and the community’s ecosystem.
Governor Oborevwori had earlier led a high-powered delegation to inspect the affected site on Monday, following which he directed the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, to ensure that residents of the affected communities receive appropriate medical attention.
Speaking during the meeting with the NEMA delegation, Warri described the incident as a serious environmental and economic concern, particularly for farmers and other residents whose livelihoods depend on the affected ecosystem.
“I want to commend the officials of NEMA for their intervention and efforts towards assessing the impact of the oil spill. What happened at Uzere Well 14 has caused serious damage to the agricultural and ecological systems of our people. The impact on our farmers and the environment is a matter of serious concern,” he said.
He expressed particular appreciation to the governor for personally visiting the affected community and taking immediate steps to address possible health risks arising from the incident.
“I am grateful to our beloved Governor for his visit and for directing the Commissioner for Health to ensure that our people receive the necessary medical attention. As we speak, medical personnel are already in Uzere carrying out medical activities for our people,” Warri stated.
Earlier, the NEMA delegation, led by the agency’s Director of Planning and Research, Dr. Godwin Tepikor, disclosed that its visit followed a report received from Uzere on September 26 regarding the oil spill.
Tepikor explained that the agency was in Isoko South to obtain preliminary information from the council chairman, who also serves as the Chief Security Officer of the local government, ahead of its assessment of the affected areas.
He added that the visit was also intended to formally notify the local government leadership of NEMA’s presence and establish effective coordination with relevant stakeholders before the assessment exercise.
The NEMA team reaffirmed its commitment to investigating the extent of the damage, working with relevant stakeholders and identifying appropriate intervention measures to address the consequences of the oil spill.
The development underscores the need for coordinated emergency response, environmental assessment and sustained medical attention for residents affected by the Uzere oil spill.
By; Sam Erhunmwunsee, Radio Nigeria Asaba
