*Says Urhobo, Isoko, Ilaje, Opobo, Bakassi, Ibibio, Efik, Ogoni communities ought to demand fair proportion of contracts
As the controversy for even distribution of oil and gasoline pipeline surveillance contracts within the Niger Delta area continues, the Initiator of “Guard Your Pipeline I Guard My Own Movement”, Fejiro Oliver, has urged the federal authorities to put emphasis on the decentralisation of pipeline surveillance contracts which was initially pushed by calls for for equity and equitable distribution of alternatives amongst oil-producing communities, moderately than ethnic concerns.
He listed the Urhobo, Isoko, Ilaje, Opobo, Bakassi, Ibibio, Efik and Ogoni communities amongst these he believed must be demanding a fair proportion of the contracts.
He argued that the Eastern hall, presently dealt with by PINL beneath Osahon Okunbo and, reportedly, the Olu of Warri, already offers alternatives for Edo and Itsekiri pursuits and may stay with them.
At a media briefing in Abuja, Fejiro said that he sought to make clear his place amid renewed controversy over the allocation of pipeline surveillance contracts and allegations regarding the quantities paid to contractors.
He stated the motion, which started in March, gained nationwide consideration and prompted the federal authorities, by way of the National Assembly, to convene what he described as an emergency city corridor assembly to debate the marketing campaign’s calls for.
He stated his group, the United Niger Delta Congress, was invited to the assembly and took part regardless of issues that the method won’t produce significant outcomes.
According to him, the central argument of the marketing campaign was that Tantita Security Services and Maton Engineering shouldn’t train management over contracts price about N2.1 trillion to guard pipelines passing by way of communities the place different succesful native contractors may carry out the job.
He stated the marketing campaign drew half of its justification from the Petroleum Industry Act, which he argued supported a extra equitable strategy to alternatives in oil-producing areas.
Oliver additionally questioned the composition of the contractors initially engaged for the surveillance work, noting that two of the foremost contractors had been related to Ijaw pursuits, whereas PINL was led by Okunbo, whom he stated was from Edo State with the Olu of Warri, an Itsekiri conventional ruler, serving as the corporate’s chairman.
He stated his concern was that “communities across the Niger Delta should have a fair opportunity to participate in pipeline surveillance activities, rather than allowing contracts to remain concentrated in the hands of a few interests”.
The activist, nevertheless, stated he was disturbed by current media stories and social media discussions that, in his view, had distorted the unique goals of the marketing campaign and turned the problem right into a confrontation involving ethnic and industrial pursuits.
