By John Umeh
A regional advocacy group from the Niger Delta has urged the Federal Government to restructure how pipeline surveillance contracts are awarded, calling for a decentralised system that gives greater participation to host communities and ethnic nationalities across the oil-producing region.
The call was made by the United Niger Delta Congress during a press briefing held in Abuja on Friday.
Speaking at the event, the group’s National President, Julius Mallam-Obi, argued that protecting oil pipelines should not be concentrated in the hands of a few contractors. Instead, he said the responsibility should involve indigenous communities and ethnic groups living in the oil-producing areas.
According to him, decentralising the surveillance contracts would strengthen local ownership of oil infrastructure, improve intelligence gathering within communities, and create employment opportunities for both youths and women.
Mallam-Obi explained that involving people from the communities where pipelines are located would also help detect sabotage earlier and reduce tensions among ethnic groups in the region.
“Peace built on monopoly is fragile, while peace built on justice and inclusion is sustainable,” he said while emphasising the need for fairness in the management of the country’s oil assets.
He also highlighted the role of women in oil-producing communities, noting that despite suffering environmental and economic hardship from decades of oil exploration, they are often excluded from opportunities tied to protecting those same resources.
The group therefore proposed that at least 35 percent of pipeline surveillance opportunities should be reserved for women from host communities, particularly through cooperatives and community-based organisations.
According to Mallam-Obi, empowering women in the region would help strengthen families, improve economic stability, and contribute to long-term peace in the Niger Delta.
The organisation also expressed concern over what it described as the dominance of a single ethnic group in key political positions related to Niger Delta affairs.
Mallam-Obi cited the role of Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, which he claimed has repeatedly been occupied by individuals from the same ethnic background, despite the region’s ethnic diversity.
He stressed that the Niger Delta consists of numerous ethnic nationalities with capable leaders and professionals who should also have opportunities to serve in strategic positions.
“For the sake of fairness and regional stability, this pattern must change,” he said.
The group further called on the Federal Government to conduct a comprehensive audit of all pipeline surveillance contracts currently operating across the region.
According to the organisation, the details of the contracts — including beneficiaries, financial value, and operational scope — should be made public to ensure transparency and accountability.
It also demanded investigations into persistent crude oil losses around export terminals despite significant government spending on pipeline security.
In addition, the group urged the Nigerian Senate and the House of Representatives Nigeria to exercise their constitutional oversight responsibilities by launching a thorough probe into the current pipeline surveillance framework.
The convener of the organisation, Fejiro Oliver, also reaffirmed the group’s commitment to promoting justice, inclusion, and sustainable development among the diverse ethnic nationalities of the Niger Delta.
