Pipeline contract: Niger Delta youths reject solidarity walk, insist on audit, decentralization
Niger Delta Youths Criticize Abuja Solidarity Walk for Pipeline Protection Contract
Youths from the Niger Delta, organized under the Pan-Niger Delta Youth Forum, have condemned a recent “Peace, Unity and Solidarity Walk” held in Abuja. The event aimed to express support for the pipeline protection contract currently managed by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.
The Pan-Niger Delta Youth Forum, which includes members from various ethnic groups such as Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urhobo, Isoko, and Ogoni, described the walk as unrepresentative, alleging it served the narrow interests of a few rather than those of the broader community.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by Comrade Samson Edafe, the forum asserted that the views expressed by Jonathan Lokpobiri, the leader of the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC), during the walk do not reflect the sentiments of the larger Ijaw population or the Niger Delta region.
“We consider Jonathan Lokpobiri a failed leader of the IJC who has strayed from the vision of this once-respected organization,” the statement said.
The forum also recalled a time when the IYC was a strong advocate for the Ijaw nation’s development. “Under the leadership of figures like Asari Dokubo, the IYC effectively promoted the interests of the Niger Delta. Today, it has been reduced to a platform for personal advancement.”
The statement further demanded Lokpobiri’s immediate resignation from his position, asserting that speakers at the solidarity walk represented only their personal circles, lacking endorsement from broader regional leadership or even their own families.
The forum expressed concern over the renewal of the pipeline surveillance contract with Tantita Security Services, emphasizing the lack of accountability in the current arrangement. “Despite significant financial investments, oil revenue generation has reportedly decreased, alongside continued incidents of oil theft and illegal refining in the region,” it noted.
The youths criticized the concentration of responsibility within a single entity, arguing that it marginalizes host communities and exacerbates local tensions. “The current administration does not align with the realities on the ground, where ongoing challenges remain unaddressed,” the group stated.
The Pan-Niger Delta Youth Forum called on the Federal Government, the National Assembly, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to conduct an independent forensic audit of the pipeline surveillance contract, with a focus on its financial performance and impact on oil theft.
Additionally, they advocated for the decentralization of surveillance responsibilities to include local operators from diverse ethnic backgrounds and host communities. The forum contended that such an approach would enhance participation, improve intelligence gathering, and ensure equitable benefits, in accordance with the principles outlined in the Petroleum Industry Act.
