Stakeholders within the Niger Delta area have rejected calls from some quarters to decentralise the pipeline safety contract awarded to the Tantita Safety Providers Nigeria Restricted (TSSNL).
This because the stakeholders who got here below Niger Delta ex-militants, Board of Trustees (BoT), Crucial Stakeholders Discussion board (CSF) and the Basis for Heritage Development and Improvement in Niger Delta (FHADND) have hailed the Nationwide Meeting for passing a vote of confidence in Tantita’s operations and Tompolo’s management.
The stakeholders, made their place throughout their assembly in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday.
They described the decision to tamper with the framework of the contract below the management of Excessive Chief Authorities Ekpemupolo popularly often known as Tompolo as untimely, harmful and probably counterproductive.
They stakeholders lauded President Bola Tinubu for approving the renewal of the contract, saying the President acted according to the desires of overwhelming majority of essential stakeholders and the strange folks, who in keeping with them had seen the stabilising affect of Tantita’s operations within the Niger Delta.
The stakeholders’ communique was signed by Excessive chief Reuben Wilson, BOT Chairman, BSF; Mr. Ezekiel Akpasibewei, First Section Ex-militant Leaders; Chief Francis Waiwei, Government Director, FHADND; Comrade Nature Dumale Kieghe, BOT Secretary; Prince Emeka Igwe (Imo State Coordinator) and Ideye Granvile (Rivers).
Different signatories within the communique are Excessive Chief Andabafa Opunama (Delta coordinator), Darikoro Alfred (Bayelsa), Excessive Chief Niko Sintei (Akwa Ibom), Frankly Duduku (Cross River), Godgift Ayabowei (Bayelsa), Kenneth Ekberi and Chief Oyetakin Senator (Ondo).
They recalled that earlier than the period of Tantita’s operations, the Niger Delta was infamous for oil theft, pipeline vandalism, unlawful bunkering, sabotage of oil infrastructure and environmental degradation.
However the stakeholders famous that following the surveillance contract, all of the vices had diminished to their barest minimal including that the present operation framework had led to improved subject coordination, stronger native intelligence gathering and elevated operational vigilance amongst others.
“In easy phrases, the current construction is working and what’s working needs to be strengthened and never dismantled. Pipeline surveillance within the Niger Delta just isn’t an strange contract, it’s a nationwide safety duty tied on to Nigeria’s {economic} survival”, the stakehokders mentioned.
They insisted that any try to distort the present construction would create operational confusion, encourage rivalry amongst a number of actors, weaken accountability, undermine coordination and effectivity and create safety gaps that prison components might exploit amongst others.
The stakehokders mentioned: “The present association below Tantita has over time developed the institutional familiarity, operational expertise, and native legitimacy required to perform successfully in such a delicate atmosphere.
“To all of the sudden fragment such framework within the identify of decentralisation would quantity to disrupting a system that has already demonstrated effectiveness.
“We should state clearly that pipeline safety ought to by no means be politicised or diminished to a sharing components for sectional, political or patronage curiosity. Nigeria’s strategic oil property are too vital to be subjected to experiments pushed by private ambition, regional strain or political bargaining.
“The overriding consideration should all the time be nationwide curiosity, operational effectiveness and sustainable peace within the Niger Delta.
“We, due to this fact urge all well-meaning stakeholders’ leaders to assist the preservation and strengthening of the present surveillance framework within the general curiosity of peace, safety, and {economic} stability within the Niger Delta and Nigeria at massive.
“We’re additionally utilizing this medium to guarantee Mr. President that he can be given overwhelming bulk votes within the forthcoming 2027 presidential election within the Niger Delta area due to his speedy approval of the renewal of the pipeline safety and surveillance job for Tantita Safety Providers Nigeria Restricted.”
They added the renewal of the contract has renewed the hopes and strengthened the arrogance of the strange Niger Deltans in Mr. President.
“The Niger Delta persons are excited to proceed plying their trades with out the concern of sea pirates’ assaults and the unfavourable results of unlawful oil bunkering actions of their communities”, the stakeholders famous.
Blessing Ibunge
Times Nigeria