Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has ordered immediate medical intervention and urgent measures to tackle the devastating impact of the oil spill along the Trans-Forcados pipeline, saying the state government would not allow affected communities to suffer unnecessarily.

Oborevwori, who spoke during an inspection visit to Odidi Community, Warri South-West Local Council Area, directed the Commissioner for Health to immediately deploy medical teams to affected communities to assess residents and determine the health implications of the pollution.

The governor was accompanied by the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor; Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale; Commander, 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Asaba, Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Buhari; Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, Warri, Commodore Shehu Tasiu; Commander, 3144 Operating Base, Nigerian Air Force, Warri, Group Capt. Charles Abara.

State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Dr Peter Afunanya, and other senior government officials.

While stressing that the situation had become too serious to be treated casually, he said: “We have to take this matter seriously. Once you see what is happening, you realise that it is a very big issue. We don’t want our people dying at this time. We cannot afford to lose our focus or waste time. We have to act quickly and decisively.”

Oborevwori said the intervention would go beyond the distribution of relief materials, stressing that residents must undergo medical examinations due to the potential health consequences of prolonged exposure to pollution.

While also directing Heritage to deploy medical teams and provide relief materials, he said the medical teams would visit the affected communities, assess the environmental and health impacts, and determine appropriate interventions. He added that the exercise would cover other areas affected by the incident.