Follow Us on Google
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The last may not have been heard about the ragging controversy over the decentralisation of oil pipeline surveillance as the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) and the National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP), have denied receiving any invitation to be part of the National Assembly (NASS) hearing on the issue.
Already, tensions are mounting in Rivers State as key youth groups rejected the claims by the National Assembly that they were invited to a recent roundtable on crude oil theft and pipeline surveillance.
The statement by IYC president, Theophilus Alaye, made available in Abuja, claimed that the IYC, the NYCOP, and other host community stakeholders also denied participation in the engagement, insisting that they were completely excluded despite being primary actors in pipeline protection.
Staging a peaceful demonstration in Gokana Local Government Area, the groups marching across major communities with placards to express dissatisfaction and renew calls for the decentralisation of pipeline surveillance contracts.
Speaking during the protest, Alaye Tari Theophilus, the President of the IYC Worldwide, described their exclusion as unacceptable, stressing that critical stakeholders cannot be sidelined in decisions that directly affect their communities.
He called on the Presidency and the Office of the National Security Adviser to urgently intervene, explaining that decentralising pipeline surveillance will empower host communities and significantly improve security outcomes.
He maintained that the host communities possess deep knowledge of the terrain, creeks, and local movement patterns, placing them in the best position to detect and prevent pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft.
Other News
The Council further defended that decentralisation would ensure faster response to security breaches, eliminate bureaucratic delays, and strengthen grassroots intelligence gathering across oil-producing areas.
NYCOP President, Marcus Raymond Nwibani, who also spoken during the protest, emphasised that it was driven by the need for fairness, inclusivity, and justice.
He warned that; “excluding host communities from key engagements erodes trust and weakens the fight against crude oil theft. Meaningful inclusion is critical to achieving sustainable results.”
“Decentralisation will create employment opportunities for thousands of youths, reduce poverty, and discourage involvement in illegal oil activities,” he added.
Similarly, President of the Ogoni Youths Federation, Emmanuel Bie, lamented the continued marginalisation of Ogoni people despite decades of oil exploration in the region.
“Ogoni land hosts over forty oil wells, yet indigenous participation in pipeline surveillance remains significantly low. Involving host communities directly would foster a sense of ownership, reduce sabotage, and enhance accountability, as communities are more likely to protect infrastructure that benefits them.
“Decentralisation will promote transparency, reduce corruption associated with centralised contracts, and minimise conflict among communities by ensuring fair representation.
“As primary victims of environmental degradation caused by oil spills, host communities have a stronger mmitment to safeguarding pipelines and preventing damage,” he noted.
