- By News Editor
The Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta, MOSIEND, has warned that there may be tension in the region if Chief Ateke Tom and Alhaji Asari Doukubo are not included in the next phase of pipeline surveillance contracts.
In a statement made available to TopNewsng by the body on Wednesday, the national president of MOSIEND, Comrade Kennedy Tonjo West, said the duo have been at the forefront of the Niger Delta struggle and, aside having the capacity, capital and manpower to secure the pipelines, they have a lot of people they are empowering who will feel intimidated if they are not considered this time around.
The MOSIEND President reminded the federal government that it took the intervention of critical stakeholders to calm the situation the last time the surveillance contracts were awarded and these leaders and other stakeholders were left out; saying that the right thing should be done this time around – so that nobody will feel they are being sidelined.
According to him, Chief Ateke Tom and Alhaji Asari Doukubo should have the first right of refusal before anything else.
“We also call on the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Mele Kyari, and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, to liaise with Mr. President to facilitate it because, beyond giving these people this contract, the government should know that this is something that will attract peace to the region, and it should be given utmost importance.”
“It shouldn’t just be about awarding contracts, but to achieve results which will bring about peace and development of the Niger Delta region, and we are hoping that Tinubu’s government will be fair in the distribution of these pipeline surveillance contracts to stakeholders,” he stated.
He said that this does not in any way mean that the people of the Niger Delta who own these resources have been relegated to pipeline surveillance contracts alone.
He urged the federal government to consider the proposals of eminent stakeholders of the Niger Delta who have applied for Oil Mining Lease – so that there can be fairness in the ownership of oil fields and blocs in the country; especially now that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is at the helm of affairs.
He advised the Minister of State for Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, to engage the president in this regard; so that those from the Niger Delta who have the capacity to mine crude oil and natural gas can have their space in the oil and gas industry.
The MOSIEND president also urged the federal government to empower local refiners of petroleum products in the Niger Delta – to enable them do their businesses legally.
According to him, “About 15 percent of the diesel, petrol, kerosene and other petroleum products consumed in Nigeria are produced by these so-called illegal refiners; and it will be a win-win situation if the federal government issues them licenses and empowers them to do their businesses legally.”
“This will bring about economic growth in the Niger Delta and also reduce to the barest minimum pipeline vandalism, oil theft and environmental pollution in the region.”
West also called for the revalidation of the surveillance contracts of Tantita Security Service and Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited whom, he said, have done their jobs excellently in the past one year; adding that revalidating their contracts and hiring more stakeholders to secure the pipelines will help to achieve more results.
According to him, “Tinubu has listening ears and will strongly consider our request, and with the way he is going, we, MOSIEND, believe that he will attend to most of the needs of the people of the region.”
