Uzere Residents Raise Alarm as Oil Well Blowout Enters Second Month in Delta

Residents of Uzere in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State have expressed growing concern over the continued eruption of Oil Well 14 in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 30, operated by Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL), nearly one month after the incident began.

The well reportedly erupted in the early hours of June 26, 2026, after the Christmas tree—the equipment used to control oil flow—allegedly sank into the ground, triggering an uncontrolled discharge of crude oil, sludge, condensate, mud and water into the surrounding environment.

Residents say they initially expected the situation to be contained within days, but the blowout has continued unabated, causing widespread environmental damage and disrupting livelihoods in the agrarian community.

Community laments environmental devastation

President-General of Uzere, Chief Edward Onyagbodo, described the incident as more than an oil spill, insisting it was an environmental disaster caused by equipment failure.

“To date, the company has not been able to retrieve it (the Christmas tree), so they have no way of stopping the well from spewing crude oil out of the soil. What is happening in Uzere is not just an oil spillage; it is a disaster resulting from Heritage’s equipment failure,” he said.

According to him, a significant portion of the community’s forest has already been affected despite efforts by the company to construct a bund wall around the site.

He added that farming activities have been severely disrupted because residents can no longer access affected farmlands due to safety concerns.

“This is the time for Uzere people to harvest their farm produce, but because of the restriction, those who planted in those areas cannot access their crops. Apart from that, crude oil is flowing into the water, and aquatic lives have been destroyed,” Onyagbodo said.

Health and safety concerns

Community members also expressed fears over the continuous release of gas from the well, warning that residents are being exposed to hazardous fumes.

According to Onyagbodo, the emissions pose serious health risks to both humans and animals.

“The crude is gushing out, emitting hazardous fumes into the air. The gas coming out is dangerous to human and animal lives. It releases cancerous elements that the people of Uzere are breathing in,” he alleged.

Calls for urgent intervention

The community accused Heritage Energy of focusing on evacuating crude oil from the site using tankers instead of prioritising efforts to permanently stop the blowout.

Residents also claimed the company had promised to bring in foreign experts to address the situation by July 26, urging the government to ensure that commitment is fulfilled.

“Instead of looking for how to curtail the situation, the company is now sending tankers to Uzere to fetch the crude as if it is something flowing normally. We are looking up to experts who can help the company curtail the situation so that it does not lead to an explosion in the community,” Onyagbodo added.

The community is calling on relevant government agencies and industry regulators to intervene urgently to contain the incident and minimise further environmental and economic damage.