The Federal Government has come under fire from Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for giving the pipeline surveillance contract to a single business and person.
According to the governor, this move may have an impact on the region of the Niger Delta’s efforts to combat oil theft.
This was said by Fubara when a group came to see him at Government House in Port Harcourt on Saturday. The trip was led by the national security adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The government’s choice to award the multibillion-naira pipeline surveillance contract to Tantita Security Services, allegedly owned by former militant leader Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, was defended by the company’s group chief executive officer, Mele Kyari, of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
In contrast, Fubara criticized the government’s choice, calling it unsuitable, in response to the delegation’s comments. According to him, more individuals from the many states and ethnic nationalities in the area should have been given the job in order to get the intended outcome.
I agree that we need to focus on the local level when fixing problems, but pipeline security shouldn’t be left in the hands of a single individual, he said. How is it possible that someone from Kalabari is in charge of the pipeline in Onne LGA? How is the situation in Ogoni under the control of someone in Onne LGA?
It’s currently not possible. We need to consider hiring all of the important figures from the various communities.
Fubara noted that his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, took a direct approach to the problem and claimed that the state had always been at the forefront of the fight against illegal oil refining.
Fubara asked Niger Delta leaders to band together and make sure that their two sons running the petroleum ministries were successful in their respective portfolios, noting that the new route being pursued by President Bola Tinubu’s administration would benefit everybody.
“Two of our sons, from the states of Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom, are leading the ministry of petroleum,” he said. We want them to succeed, not fail. We have to help them in the right way. We are already tackling it, so you shouldn’t have even considered coming. You need to have just called me and requested the situation report.
In contrast to its contribution to the national economy, he claimed that the Niger Delta was not reaping the benefits it should be. He asked the group to talk to the appropriate persons in order to gather accurate information.
The Tinubu-led administration had earlier made a commitment to doing things correctly in order to get the country moving again.
According to Ribadu, the Federal Government still values the crude oil and gas-rich territory, thus it is making all the required preparations to steer the area in a different direction.
The NSA declared, “We are here at Tinubu’s own request. We are here because of Mr. President’s pledge, as the Minister of Defense stated. Mr. President is of the opinion that this region of Nigeria is very important. The Niger Delta’s inhabitants need peace in order to survive, in addition to the riches.
He has provided us with instructions. See, this is the whole force of the federal government. Here are gathered strategic individuals and offices. This is a blatant illustration of a dedication to and a conviction that enough is enough, as the minister of defense put it. There is a new chapter.
“We think the time has come to act morally, and we’re going to do it.”
The CDS, General Christopher Musa, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, were also present in the delegation.
Muhammed Badaru, Minister of Defense; Bello Matawalle, Minister of State (Defense); Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State (Oil); and Ekperipe Ekpo, Minister of State (Petroleum Resources), Minister of State (Gas).
