By Bose Adelaja
CITIZENS COMPASS– In commemoration of the 2025 World Peace Day, an advocacy group, the Community Development Advocacy Foundation (CODAF), on Sunday, called on stakeholders to seek dialogue with the Odidi community over degradation of their land.
Odidi is in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
Speaking on this year’s theme, “Act Now for a Peaceful World,” the group called on Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL) and all relevant regulatory agencies to execute a swift action by restoring livelihoods and providing relief for the damages suffered by the occupants of Odidi.
CODAF Executive Director, Benin, E. Richard stated this in a statement made available to Citizens Compass.
According to him, “This World Peace Day, the global call to action is clear: “Act Now for a Peaceful World.” At the Community Development Advocacy Foundation (CODAF), we believe that this action must be directed towards protecting our planet, for 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.
“The theme compels us to move beyond reflection and into concrete action. It demands that we address the root causes of conflict, which often lies 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 grievance and conflict.
In the spirit of “Act Now,” we issue a direct appeal:
“We call on the responsible company, 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 Odidi community leadership. This dialogue must address three critical areas:
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.
Future Safeguards: To establish clear, community-involved protocols to prevent future occurrences and ensure accountability.
Procrastination is a choice that fuels instability. To choose inaction is to choose a path that jeopardizes community peace. 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 and urge all stakeholders to act now before the damage becomes irreversible.”
