By Owho Warri
The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has ordered Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL), operator of Oil Mining Lease 30, to immediately halt the ongoing discharge of crude oil, gas and other petroleum substances from Well 14 in Uzere, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed made the order on Monday, August 17, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/132/2026, following an application filed by the Chairman of the Uzere Traditional Council, HRM Udogri Isaac I, on behalf of the people of Uzere Kingdom.
The court also directed HEOSL and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to mobilise the necessary resources to contain the pollution, clean up the affected environment and take immediate measures to safeguard the area pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
Counsel representing the respondents confirmed that the court processes had been served and informed the court that neither HEOSL nor NOSDRA
The order followed a blowout at Well 14 on June 26, which residents say has continued to release crude oil, gas and other petroleum substances into the surrounding environment.
The incident has renewed concerns over the environmental consequences of prolonged oil exploration in the Niger Delta, particularly the condition of ageing petroleum infrastructure and the effectiveness of emergency response and remediation mechanisms.
Uzere has a long history of oil exploration dating back to 1957, following the discovery of commercial crude oil at Oloibiri in 1956. The community currently hosts the Uzere West and Uzere East oil fields, with extensive petroleum infrastructure comprising oil wells, flow stations, pipelines, manifolds and
The latest blowout therefore comes against the backdrop of almost seven decades of oil production in the community.
Residents have reportedly expressed concern over the impact of the Well 14 incident on the environment, with fears over possible contamination of land and water resources and the wider implications for livelihoods in the affected area.
The Federal High Court’s directive effectively places immediate responsibilities on HEOSL and NOSDRA to contain the discharge, commence environmental cleanup and protect the affected community.
The court further directed the parties to report their compliance with the order within 14 days, setting the stage for closer judicial scrutiny of the response to the Uz
The development is expected to further intensify calls for stronger regulatory oversight, improved oil infrastructure maintenance and faster remediation of environmental damage in Nigeria’s oil-producing communities.
