A group of Niger Delta leaders under the aegis of the Coalition of Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities has asked President Bola Tinubu to decentralise pipeline protection contracts across communities in the region instead of concentrating them in the hands of a few individuals.
The leaders warned that failure to decentralise the contracts along spheres of influence in the region could trigger another phase of armed struggle, noting that signs of growing discontent were already evident and could negatively affect the nation’s struggling economy.
The group made the call in a statement signed by officials representing different ethnic nationalities in the region, including the President of the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, Alaye Theophilus; the President of the Coalition of Isoko Youth Groups, Oghenekaro Edor; the President of Ogoni Federated Youth, Emmanuel Bieh; the President of Ibom Youth Council, Lord Knight; and the Chairman of the Ijaw Youth Council, Eastern Zone, Ibiso Harry.
The coalition said pipeline protection contracts should be given to major stakeholders across the Niger Delta.
“The CNDEN wishes to draw President Tinubu’s attention to the growing concerns surrounding the monopolisation of pipeline protection contracts in the Niger Delta by a narrow group of individuals.
“It is important to clarify that no Niger Delta person is calling for the revocation of the pipelines’ surveillance contract. Instead, all concerned Niger Deltans are advocating for decentralisation to ensure accountability, equal representation and fairness for all stakeholders in the region.
“The Niger Delta remains the economic backbone of Nigeria. The daily extraction of crude oil and gas from our lands and waters sustains the national economy and funds government operations across the federation. However, the region’s unique terrain and the recent armed struggle that disrupted oil and gas infrastructure and activities cannot be overlooked,” the group said.
They stated that all struggle leaders are naturally inclined to control their primary domain, saying it is crucial that “we consider these concerns to prevent another phase of armed struggle in the region”.
According to them, all indications suggest that this reality is imminent due to deep-rooted grievances exacerbated by the unprecedented greed of individuals who should have openly discussed the issue with their colleagues and in the spirit of brotherhood.
“Therefore, it will be counterproductive in the near future. It is unacceptable that the protection of such critical national assets is concentrated in a few individuals while the majority of stakeholders and host communities bearing the environmental and social burden of oil exploration are sidelined,” the statement read.
The coalition argued that pipeline protection in the region should not be the exclusive preserve of a few individuals, describing such an arrangement as unjust, politically insensitive and capable of fuelling resentment among the various ethnic nationalities of the Niger Delta.
“As representatives of the diverse ethnic nationalities of the Niger Delta, we strongly demand that pipeline protection contracts be decentralised and fairly distributed among credible stakeholders within each Niger Delta state. Every oil-producing state in the region should have the opportunity to participate through recognised stakeholders, community structures and indigenous security networks who understand their terrain and have a direct stake in protecting national assets.
“By decentralising pipeline protection contracts and allowing stakeholders in each Niger Delta state to take responsibility for protecting pipelines within their territories, the Federal Government will fragment potential high-security risks and achieve several important outcomes.”
The coalition further stated that many respected elders and long-standing stakeholders across the Niger Delta were unhappy with the current arrangement but had chosen not to publicly express their anger in order to preserve peace and national interest.
“But the reality is that the younger leaders and stakeholders are watching closely, and the growing frustration over the perceived exclusion of the region’s ethnic nationalities could become a dangerous time bomb waiting to explode if not urgently addressed with fairness and inclusivity.
“There is obviously the palpable discontent brewing which, if not attended to quickly, could lead to something unexpected,” the statement added.
