UZERE OIL SPILL: PJDI CALLS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

The Porb Justice and Development Initiative (PJDI) has continued to monitor developments surrounding the reported oil and gas spill from Well 14 in Uzere Community, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.

As part of our ongoing intervention, PJDI has already formally written to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), and Heritage Energy, requesting appropriate investigation, regulatory action, environmental assessment and remediation. Our position from the outset has been that the facts must first be properly established and that legitimate community concerns must be addressed through a transparent and credible process.

PJDI has now become concerned about reports of restrictions on access to the affected spill site. We consider it important that the circumstances surrounding these reports are clarified, particularly whether duly recognized representatives of the Uzere host community were afforded meaningful participation in any Joint Investigation Visit or other official assessment of the incident.

While PJDI recognizes that legitimate health, safety and operational considerations may require controlled access to petroleum facilities, such restrictions should not undermine statutory regulatory oversight, the integrity of the Joint Investigation Visit process, or meaningful participation by duly recognized representatives of the affected host community.

The Petroleum Industry Act 2021 recognizes host communities as important stakeholders within Nigeria's petroleum governance framework and requires engagement with affected communities in assessing the social, environmental and economic effects of petroleum operations. Similarly, the oil spill investigation framework administered by NOSDRA contemplates participation by the operator, relevant government agencies and representatives of affected communities in the Joint Investigation Visit process.

This is particularly important because findings concerning the cause, extent and impact of a spill may subsequently become relevant to remediation, environmental restoration, regulatory action and legitimate claims for compensation. The integrity and transparency of the investigation process must therefore command the confidence of all parties.

PJDI is not presently making any finding that Heritage Energy or any other party unlawfully prevented access to the site. We are calling for clarification and transparency regarding what occurred, who participated in the investigation, the nature and basis of any access restrictions imposed, and whether community representatives were given a meaningful opportunity to observe and participate in the process.

PJDI therefore calls on NOSDRA, NUPRC and Heritage Energy to ensure that the Uzere investigation and remediation process remains transparent, inclusive and consistent with applicable Nigerian laws and regulatory procedures.

Our intervention remains guided by evidence, fairness and due process. We will continue to engage the relevant institutions, the operator and the Uzere community while monitoring containment, investigation, remediation and other developments arising from the incident.

Environmental accountability requires more than determining what happened. It requires a process in which the community, regulators and operator can have confidence in how the facts were established.

Philip O. Orbih
Lawyer, Human Rights Consultant (USIDHR)
Founder & Executive Director
Porb Justice and Development Initiative (PJDI)
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: porbjustice.org
Advocacy • Justice • Development