. Say region risks renewed conflict as resentments grow.
As protests across the Niger Delta continue to grow, stakeholders say that multi-billion oil pipeline and facilities surveillance contracts given to ex-warlords by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, need to be reviewed in the interests of fairness and justice.
They pointed out that many communities that feel left out are only maintaining the peace in the national interest, noting that the simmering rage may have the Niger Delta sitting on a keg of gunpowder.
A self-styled ex-militant warlord, Endurance Amagbein, fired a salvo last week when he appealed to President Bola Tinubu to review the pipeline surveillance contracts in the region.
Amagbein, in a statement, said he wants the president to review the surveillance program in the Niger Delta “so that one person from one kingdom does not control pipelines in another kingdom.”
Amagbein is not alone. Emmanuel Adedeji, an Ondo State-born lawyer, expressed concern about the disquiet in the Niger Delta over the operations of surveillance contractors.
Adedeji maintained that “ if these issues are not well addressed, they could jeopardize the relative peace currently being maintained in the Niger Delta region, especially with regard to the vandalism of oil installations and theft of crude oil.”
He said that the relevant authorities should seek to resolve the differences between the contractors and indigenous communities heavily short-changed in the current oil pipeline and facilities surveillance regime in the region.
But Amagbein, talking tough, held that the festering problem in the Niger Delta region is“the selfish and greedy surveillance contractors who have sabotaged the system by deviating from the President’s efforts at peace in the Niger Delta.”
He specifically called for the investigation of a particular surveillance company (name withheld), which he accused of negligence, “including complaints of non-payment of salaries.”
According to him, “gunboat oil politics” should be reviewed by the government in order to incorporate truly indigenous participation in the oil and gas surveillance contacts for lasting peace.
Amagbein said the aim of military-civilian relations all over the world is to achieve a safe and better society where there is peace, political stability, development, and economic growth – devoid of insurgency, oppression, and suppression. But according to him, “it is disheartening that the reverse is the case in the Niger Delta region.”
“There have been so many tensions in the region because, rather than giving useful information to the military for the purpose of peace and progress, some persons have decided to betray the trust the armed forces reposed in them.
“They are deliberately giving false information to the military for selfish reasons – to help them neutralise their political enemies and those who dare to oppose their continued oppression. President Tinubu is not the problem of the people of Niger Delta,” he held.
In his reaction, Chris Akpodiete, a US-based lawyer from oil-producing Delta State, insisted that the federal government should consider involving diverse indigenous communities in the security services tasked with protecting oil pipelines in their respective domains.
Akpodiete, who is also a former House of Assembly candidate in the state, said: “My call is driven by concerns that the current system, which often favors a select few, has contributed to regional tensions and mistrust.
“By empowering indigenous peoples and communities to take ownership of pipeline security in their individual domains, the government can foster a sense of responsibility and cooperation, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness of security measures.
“This approach could also help address the root causes of militancy and vandalism, promoting peace and stability in the Niger Delta region. Moreover, indigenous grassroots participation in pipeline security could provide economic opportunities for local communities, helping to reduce poverty and inequality.
“As the government explores ways to improve pipeline security, it is essential to consider the benefits of a more inclusive and community-driven approach, one that prioritizes the needs and concerns of the people living in different communities within the Niger Delta region. By doing so, the government can build trust, promote development, and ensure the long-term security of the nation’s oil infrastructure.”
According to Akpodiete, “If private security contractors are allowed to monopolize pipeline protection in the entire Niger-Delta region, without involving other indigenous communities at the grassroots level, it may escalate tensions and create a volatile situation in the Niger Delta.”
He maintained that serious resentment and mistrust among local communities has been brewing silently for some time in the region, with heightened risks of pipeline vandalism and attacks, leading to further destabilization of the region and potential for conflict and violence.
“Involving indigenous communities in pipeline security would mitigate these risks and promote peace and stability in the region. The Tinubu administration should prioritize inclusivity in pipeline surveillance contracts, ensuring that all peaceful oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta region are given fair consideration and opportunities to participate. Sidelining certain communities could exacerbate existing tensions, undermine trust, and potentially lead to further instability in the region.
“By engaging with and empowering local communities, the government can foster a sense of ownership and cooperation, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness of pipeline security measures and promoting peace and development in the region,” he said.