Follow Us on Google
From Fred Itua, Abuja
A group under the umbrella of Eastern Youth Coalition for Equity has accused the Nigerian government and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) of marginalising the region in the award of pipeline surveillance contract.
The group revealed this at a press conference addressed by the convener, Comrade Edwin Nkwede in Abuja on Tuesday.
The group urged the Federal Government to act swiftly in addressing the issue to avert agitation that may lead to bigger challenges in the east.
It noted the pipeline contract has generated so much controversy in the last one year and led to agitations which were all centered on marginalisation.
He said: “Our protest is even more germane now that the contract is to be renewed by the Federal Government.
“The Eastern Youth Coalition on marginalization in the pipeline surveillance contract in Igbo Land, is a coalition of interested youths pressure groups from Oil Producing State in the Eastern region of Nigeria, namely; Abia, Anambra and Imo States respectively.”
They wondered why a non-Igbo, should be at the helm of affairs in the protection of crude oil exploration facilities in their region.
“This can only happen to Igbos. If an Igbo man holds a contract of this magnitude in Itsekiri land or any other land, I doubt if they would embrace the decision,” he said.
The coalition however, appealed to the Federal Government to prevail on the general contractors, to accommodate youths of the coalition which forms the mandate of the youths of the region.
They also asked that requisite offices and stakeholders responsible for award of subcontract from the existing contract which would soon be re-awarded, to be given to a company chosen by the coalition.
The coalition said that if considered, would passionately assure proper community liaison for effective monitoring of crude oil facilities in the region.
“It is on this note that we as law abiding youths of the eastern region through this coalition therefore humbly appeal to the Federal Government to prevail on the general contractors, to accommodate youths of this coalition which forms the mandate of the youths of the region.
“Prevail on the requisite offices and stakeholders responsible to award a subcontract from the existing contract which would soon be re-awarded, to a company of choosing of this coalition.
“We passionately assure you that in the event the youth groups are considered, it shall be our mandate to ensure proper community liaison for effective monitoring of crude oil facilities in the region.
“We also wish to state here, categorically, that the Igbo land is too important in the scheme of things in Nigeria to be relegated so much so,” he concluded.
