The United Niger Delta Congress has urged President Bola Tinubu to step into the ongoing dispute over pipeline surveillance contracts in the Niger Delta, warning that mishandling the situation could trigger a return to violence in the region.
The group reacted to a recent vote of confidence passed by committees of the National Assembly on a major pipeline contractor, describing the move as misguided and beyond the lawmakers’ constitutional powers.
In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by its President, Julius Malam-Obi, and Secretary General, Emaluji, the association argued that the National Assembly has no legal authority to award, renew, or endorse such contracts.
It further stated that the action contradicts provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, which recognizes host communities as key stakeholders in protecting oil and gas infrastructure within their territories.
The group warned that concentrating pipeline surveillance contracts in the hands of a single entity undermines fairness and risks escalating tensions in a region with a history of agitation over marginalization.
According to the association, assigning pipeline protection responsibilities to outsiders while excluding local communities is both unjust and potentially dangerous, as it could provoke unrest.
It emphasized that decentralizing surveillance responsibilities and involving host communities would improve accountability and help curb oil theft more effectively.
The group stressed that peace and stability in the Niger Delta depend on fairness, inclusion, and respect for the rights of local communities, cautioning that continued exclusion could lead to renewed resistance.
It concluded by urging authorities to uphold the law, dismantle monopolies, and ensure equitable participation to prevent further tension in the region.
