Olu of Warri Denies N2.7trn Pipeline Surveillance Claims, Challenges Accusers to Show Proof

By Chike Ofili
The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has denied claims that he receives N2.7 trillion annually from pipeline surveillance contracts, challenging those making the allegation to produce documentary evidence to substantiate it.

The controversy also drew intervention from Niger Delta activist Fejiro Oliver, who disputed the N2.7 trillion figure and said available contract information known to him did not support the allegation against the Olu of Warri.

The monarch, in a statement through Collins Edema, his sole representative to NNPC Limited and its joint venture partners, described the claim, attributed to former Niger Delta militant leader Asari Dokubo, as extraordinary and insisted that an allegation of such magnitude must be backed by verifiable evidence.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the allegation that the Olu of Warri receives N2.7 trillion annually from pipeline surveillance contracts is categorically rejected,” the statement said.

“We challenge Mr Dokubo to produce the documentary evidence upon which this extraordinary claim is based.”

Edema said the central issue was not the forcefulness with which an allegation was made but whether it could withstand scrutiny against official records.

“Attention should not be confused with credibility, and forcefulness should not be mistaken for evidence,” he said.

He maintained that Dokubo’s claim should neither be accepted nor rejected merely on the strength of his public reputation, insisting that it must be tested against documentary evidence.

“His claims must stand or fall on the quality of the evidence supporting them,” Edema said.

Joining the controversy, Oliver said he had previously obtained documents relating to the pipeline surveillance arrangements and had publicly raised questions about the size and distribution of the contracts.

According to him, the surveillance programme involves different contractors operating across various sections of Nigeria’s oil pipeline network rather than a single contractor or beneficiary.

Oliver said his understanding of documents in his possession did not support the assertion that the Olu of Warri or interests associated with the Eastern corridor received N2.7 trillion annually.

He challenged anyone disputing his position to produce contrary documentary evidence, while stressing that the competing figures being circulated publicly should be subjected to independent verification.

Oliver also claimed that some widely reported figures concerning pipeline surveillance contracts had previously understated the overall value of the arrangements. He said his earlier disclosures helped bring greater public attention to the structure and cost of the programme.

He further argued that the contracts should be examined in terms of the different corridors, contractors, and subcontracting arrangements involved, cautioning against attributing the overall value of pipeline surveillance operations to any single individual or entity without supporting records.

Oliver said he remained supportive of retaining pipeline surveillance responsibilities within the Niger Delta, while advocating a broader distribution of opportunities among communities and interests across the oil-producing region.

Edema similarly called for scrutiny of relevant contracts, procurement processes, corporate records, government approvals, performance reports, and regulatory documents to establish the facts surrounding the surveillance arrangements.

“If wrongdoing is alleged, the appropriate institutions should investigate and establish the facts,” he said.

“And if no wrongdoing is established, politically charged allegations should not be allowed to substitute for evidence.”

The Olu’s representative stressed that pipeline surveillance contracts were not ordinary commercial arrangements because the security of Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure directly affected crude production, government revenue, foreign exchange earnings, and broader economic stability.

He also warned against allowing disputes over the contracts to inflame longstanding ethnic sensitivities in the Niger Delta.

“The Niger Delta has paid a heavy price for politics conducted through confrontation and inflammatory rhetoric,” the statement said.

“Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo relations require responsible leadership, not rhetoric that can easily be interpreted as provocation.”

Edema said the controversy should ultimately be settled by verifiable records rather than accusations and counter-accusations.

“Whoever makes the allegation should provide the evidence. Whoever is accused should have the opportunity to respond,” he said.

“Pipeline security is ultimately about more than contracts. It is about protecting national assets, safeguarding economic activity, and securing an important part of Nigeria’s economic survival.”