A group, the Niger Delta Economic Justice Movement (NDEJM), has written to President Bola Tinubu, demanding for the review of the pipeline surveillance and security arrangements in the region.
NDEJM, in an open letter to the president, a copy of which was obtained by Eastern Herald in Port Harcourt, insisted that the review and decentralisation of pipeline surveillance contract would ensure broader participation of host communities in the region.
Copied in the open letter were Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, RT. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and the FCT minister, Chief Nyesom Wike.
Also copied in the letter, which was signed by Ogboka Umeda, Chief Charles Ekoro, Daniel Nwankwoala, Karl Chinedu Uchegbu and 10 others, were the national security adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and the minister of state for Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, among others.
The group called for the establishment of a structured framework that allows host communities to actively participate in the protection of oil and gas infrastructure located within their territories, urging the National Assembly to examine the current structure of pipeline surveillance contracts and consider measures that will promote transparency, fairness and inclusive participation.
Below is a copy of the open letter.
NIGER DELTA ECONOMIC JUSTICE MOVEMENT
OPEN LETTER
His Excellency
Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
Aso Rock Villa
Abuja.
Your Excellency,
An Appeal for Economic Justice, Inclusion and Equity in Pipeline Surveillance and Security Contracts in the Niger Delta
We, the members of the Niger Delta Economic Justice Movement, respectfully write to you as the leader of Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda to urgently appeal for justice, inclusion and equity for our people in the distribution of pipeline surveillance and security contracts in the Niger Delta.
We commend Your Excellency for your bold reforms, policy initiatives, and determination in steering Nigeria through a challenging economic period. Your leadership demonstrates a commitment to reform, stability and long-term national development.
However, Your Excellency, while the Renewed Hope vision inspires many Nigerians, we respectfully draw your attention to the growing concerns among host communities in the Niger Delta regarding their limited participation in key programmes and opportunities within the region.
Over the years, several federal initiatives such as the
Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the
Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), as well as pipeline surveillance and security contracts, were established to promote stability, development and inclusion in the Niger Delta. However, many host communities feel that they have not been sufficiently involved in these programmes despite being directly affected by oil and gas activities in their areas.
The Niger Delta agitation has historically taken different forms across communities, but its core objective has always been economic justice, environmental protection and fair participation in the benefits derived from the region’s resources. Many communities have consistently maintained peaceful engagement and cooperation with government authorities and oil companies while advocating for development and fairness.
It is therefore important that peaceful communities that have demonstrated commitment to stability and national unity are not overlooked in initiatives intended to protect vital national infrastructure.
We respectfully submit that broader participation of host communities in pipeline surveillance and security arrangements will strengthen accountability, enhance local cooperation and improve the protection of petroleum infrastructure across the Niger Delta.
Our appeal is further supported by the provisions of Sections 256–257 of the
Petroleum Industry Act, which recognise the responsibilities and expectations placed upon host communities regarding the protection of petroleum infrastructure within their territories. These provisions imply that host communities have a legitimate role to play in safeguarding oil and gas facilities located in their areas.
Furthermore, international governance frameworks such as the
Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the
United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights emphasise the importance of fair participation, protection and compensation for communities that bear environmental and infrastructural risks associated with resource extraction.
It is therefore consistent with both national legislation and international governance principles that host communities should be meaningfully included in initiatives designed to secure petroleum infrastructure within their territories.
Our Prayers
We respectfully call on the Federal Government to review and decentralise the pipeline surveillance and security arrangements in the Niger Delta in order to ensure broader participation of host communities.
We urge the establishment of a structured framework that allows host communities to actively participate in the protection of oil and gas infrastructure located within their territories.
We also call on both chambers of the National Assembly to examine the current structure of pipeline surveillance contracts and consider measures that will promote transparency, fairness and inclusive participation.
Your Excellency, we firmly believe in your reputation as a bridge-builder and a defender of fairness. We trust that your administration has both the moral authority and the political will to strengthen inclusion and ensure that host communities in the Niger Delta are fairly represented in initiatives affecting their region.
We therefore urge Your Excellency to give this appeal urgent consideration so that the Renewed Hope Agenda may truly reflect justice, equity and meaningful inclusion for all communities in the Niger Delta.
May history remember your administration as one that strengthened national unity through fairness and transformed long-standing concerns into opportunities for inclusion and development.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Long live the Niger Delta.
Yours faithfully,
Signed
Ogboka Chris Umeda -Cordinator
Chief Charles Ekoro-Secretary
Daniel Nwankwoala
Maxwell D. Ibelegbu
Moses Fabian Urang
Nwakanma Owhonda
Wagbara Precious Ovunda
Karl Chinedu
Prince Joshua Crispus Ovoh
Wariso Wariso
Precious Nwibana
Hector Ekeakite
Charles Odi
Chukwuma Anyanwu
Rev. Dr. Goodluck Agomuo
C.C
The President, Nigerian Senate
The Speaker, House of Representatives
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory
The Minister of State for Petroleum
The National Security Adviser to the President
Hon. O.K. Chinda, Minority Leader, House of Representatives
Hon. Dum Dekor, Chairman, House of Representatives Commuter on Host Communities.