Dare Babalola
A coalition of Itsekiri stakeholders and groups in the Niger Delta on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to sustain a centralised pipeline surveillance system.
The group cautioned that renewed calls for decentralisation could weaken coordination and expose critical oil infrastructure to avoidable risks.
The position was made during a peaceful protest held in Warri in Delta State, where demonstrators expressed support for the existing security framework and rejected proposals to redistribute pipeline surveillance contracts among multiple community-based groups.
Spokespersons for the coalition, Dele Ogunyemi, argued that pipeline protection is a specialised national assignment that requires unified command, professional oversight, and strict accountability rather than fragmented community control.
They maintained that the current arrangement, which involves firms such as Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited and Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, has contributed to improved surveillance outcomes and better protection of oil assets.
According to the coalition, the framework aligns with the principles of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, which they said provides a structured balance between national security, host community participation, and operational efficiency.
The group warned that decentralising surveillance responsibilities could create coordination gaps and dilute responsibility, stressing that multiple independently managed contracts might lead to overlaps, inefficiencies, and increased vulnerability of pipeline infrastructure.
In a joint position, the coalition emphasised their opposition in strong terms, stating, “We stoutly reject decentralising the pipeline surveillance contract.”
They further explained their stance by adding that, “Based on the Petroleum Industry Act, pipeline surveillance is not treated as a distributable community benefit, but as a specialised security function requiring professional competence, operational discipline and unified command.”
Community leaders within the coalition, Mone Oris, Itse Omajugho, and Bobby Omadeli, urged agitators to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could heighten tensions in the Niger Delta.
They called on the Federal Government to retain the existing model while strengthening collaboration between host communities and surveillance operators, arguing that stability and continuity remain critical to sustaining improvements in pipeline security and oil production.
