By Edu Abade
Following the recent devastating oil spills from ruptured Trans-Forcados Pipeline (TFP) that ravaged Odidi Community in Warri South West Council of Delta State leading to loss of livelihoods, the Community Development Advocacy Foundation (CODAF) has demanded comprehensive compensation, environmental remediation and future safeguards from regulatory agencies and Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL).
Speaking on the sidelines of this year’s World Peace Day (WPD) with the theme: Act Now For A Peaceful World, Executive Director, Community Development Advocacy Foundation (CODAF), Benin Richard, stated that such call to action must be directed towards protecting the planet, adding, “There is no lasting peace without environmental justice. A healthy environment is not a separate ideal; it is a prerequisite for peaceful, stable and prosperous communities.”
He stressed that the global call to action with this year’s theme of Act Now For A Peaceful World remains clear, insisting that the theme compels all stakeholders to move beyond reflection to concrete action to address the massive spill that ravaged Odidi Community on September 8, 2025.
In a statement made available to journalists, he stated, “It demands that we address the root causes of conflict, which often lie in the struggle for scarce resources, the fight for dignity, and the devastating impact of environmental degradation on human health and livelihoods.
“Nowhere is this call to action more urgent than in the case of the Odidi Community. The recent oil spill is a stark example of how environmental neglect directly threatens peace. The destruction of farmlands and waterways is not just an ecological disaster; it is an act that dismantles the very foundations of a community’s survival, creating a fertile ground for grievances and conflicts.”
Speaking further, he said, “In the spirit of “Act Now,” we appeal and call on Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL) and all relevant regulatory agencies to ACT NOW. The time for silence and inaction is over. Immediate steps must be taken to initiate a transparent and good-faith dialogue with the leadership of the Odidi Community.
“This dialogue must address comprehensive compensation to restore livelihoods and provide relief for the damages suffered; environmental remediation to commit to and execute a swift, thorough and certified cleanup of the affected land and water, as well as future safeguards to establish clear, community-involved protocols to prevent future occurrences and ensure accountability.”
Benin also cautioned that procrastination is a choice that fuels instability and that to choose inaction is to choose a path that jeopardizes community peace, adding, “True peace is built through justice, accountability, and the unwavering protection of our shared environment.
“On this World Peace Day, let us all commit to actions, both big and small, that build a more just and peaceful world. We stand with the people of Odidi Community and urge all stakeholders to act now before the damage becomes irreversible.”
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