Former Bayelsa State ex-agitator challenges Reps’ position, urges Tinubu to decentralise pipeline surveillance contracts across the Niger Delta.

Dr Ebebe Watchman, a former ex-agitator from Bayelsa State, has criticised the position of the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Host Communities recommending the extension of Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited’s (PINL) pipeline surveillance contract, insisting that the continued centralisation of the contract is not the solution to the lingering security challenges and underdevelopment in the Niger Delta.

Reacting to the committee’s decision to dismiss a petition against PINL and recommend an extension of its contract, Watchman described the development as another missed opportunity for the National Assembly to address the fundamental issues affecting the oil-producing communities, arguing that the region needs a fair, inclusive and decentralised pipeline surveillance framework rather than decisions that preserve the existing arrangement.

According to him, the National Assembly and its relevant committees must accept responsibility for addressing the concerns of the people they represent instead of engaging in what he described as political theatrics that do little to improve the living conditions of ordinary Niger Deltans.

“The National Assembly and its subcommittees are part of the problem in the Niger Delta. Whenever the people expect meaningful intervention on issues affecting their lives, we are confronted with one drama or another, seemingly designed to satisfy political and personal interests rather than advance the collective interests of the region.

“Establishing a panel, inviting petitioners who subsequently fail to appear, dismissing allegations as unsubstantiated and then passing a vote of confidence in the existing arrangement by recommending an extension of the contract may satisfy a procedural requirement, but it will not resolve the underlying grievances in the Niger Delta.

“The fundamental question the National Assembly should be asking is whether the current pipeline surveillance arrangement is sufficiently inclusive, accountable and effective to protect our oil and gas infrastructure while ensuring that host communities benefit meaningfully from the resources extracted from their territories,” Watchman stated.

The former Bayelsa ex-agitator stressed that the controversy surrounding the contract should provide an opportunity for the Federal Government to reconsider the structure of pipeline surveillance across the Niger Delta rather than simply extend existing arrangements without addressing concerns about inclusion and equitable participation.

He argued that the Federal Government should decentralise pipeline surveillance contracts across the oil-producing states, allowing competent stakeholders and host-community interests to take greater responsibility for securing critical oil and gas infrastructure within their respective territories.

Watchman maintained that the Niger Delta has no shortage of individuals with the knowledge, experience and capacity required to support effective pipeline protection, adding that excluding capable stakeholders while concentrating responsibilities in the hands of a limited number of contractors could deepen perceptions of marginalisation.

“Why should pipeline surveillance in the Niger Delta continue to operate under an arrangement that leaves capable stakeholders in several oil-producing states feeling excluded from the protection of resources located in their own territories?

“We have capable people in Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta and other oil-producing states who understand their communities, the terrain, the dynamics and the factors that contribute to insecurity. These are people whose capacities should be recognised and integrated into a transparent and properly coordinated security framework.

“Bringing contractors from outside a particular territory to dominate surveillance activities in another community, without adequately involving competent local stakeholders, creates a sense of exclusion and marginalisation. That approach must give way to a more inclusive system that recognises the legitimate interests of host communities,” he said.

Watchman emphasised that his position should not be interpreted as a demand to terminate the contracts of existing operators or prevent them from continuing their legitimate responsibilities. Instead, he called for a restructuring of the arrangement to accommodate qualified stakeholders who have been left out, ensuring that pipeline surveillance becomes a collective regional responsibility rather than a concentrated commercial arrangement.

“We are not asking the Federal Government to stop other contractors from doing their jobs. We are asking the government to decentralise the system and carry along capable stakeholders who have been excluded.

“There is a clear difference between removing an existing contractor and creating a framework in which other competent operators can participate. Our demand is for fairness, inclusion, accountability and effectiveness. Nobody should monopolise an opportunity that concerns the security of an entire region when other qualified hands are available to contribute.

“The Presidency must understand that the Niger Delta requires a solution that goes beyond contract extensions and official endorsements. We need a system that gives every oil-producing state a meaningful stake in protecting the infrastructure within its territory,” Watchman declared.

He further argued that decentralisation could strengthen local ownership of pipeline security, improve intelligence gathering, encourage cooperation between host communities and security stakeholders, and create a more transparent mechanism for assessing performance.

According to him, the continued struggle to raise Nigeria's crude oil production to sustainable levels makes it imperative for the government to examine every aspect of the country's oil and gas security architecture, including whether the current distribution of pipeline surveillance responsibilities is delivering the best possible results.

Watchman noted that the success of pipeline protection should not be measured solely by the renewal of contracts or endorsements by government committees, but by measurable improvements in crude oil production, the prevention of crude theft, the reduction of pipeline vandalism, the strengthening of community relations and the equitable participation of competent local stakeholders.

He maintained that a decentralised framework, supported by clear operational standards, transparent performance monitoring and effective federal coordination, could help strengthen the country's oil production capacity while reducing the grievances associated with perceived exclusion.

“The question is simple: after all the years of operating the current arrangement, can we honestly say that Nigeria has fully maximised its crude oil production potential? If our production continues to face challenges, then the government must be willing to examine the system and make necessary adjustments instead of treating every call for reform as an attack on existing contractors.

“Decentralisation offers an opportunity to improve accountability, enhance efficiency and ensure that those who understand the local terrain are part of the solution. The government must be bold enough to embrace a model that promotes fairness while maintaining the national standards required to protect our oil and gas infrastructure,” he added.

As an example of the type of individuals participation he believes should be considered, Watchman argued that established local stakeholders with relevant experience and the capacity to operate within their respective states should be given opportunities to contribute to pipeline security under a properly regulated framework.

He specifically cited Boyloaf and other capable stakeholders in Bayelsa State, as well as Asari Dokubo, Ateke Tom and other individuals in Rivers State, arguing that competent indigenous stakeholders across Delta and other oil-producing states should equally be considered for roles within their respective territories.

He stressed, however, that participation must be based on competence, accountability, clearly defined responsibilities and compliance with the law, rather than political patronage or the automatic allocation of contracts based on personal connections.

“Boyloaf and other capable hands can be considered within a transparent framework for Bayelsa State. Asari, Ateke and other qualified stakeholders can be considered in Rivers State, while capable indigenous stakeholders in Delta and other oil-producing states should also be given opportunities to contribute to securing their territories.

“What we are advocating is not the replacement of one monopoly with another. We are advocating a system in which every oil-producing state has a fair opportunity to participate, every contractor is held accountable, and every host community has a legitimate voice in decisions affecting the security of its environment and resources.

“If the Federal Government gets this right, we can build a more inclusive and effective surveillance structure that promotes peace, improves operational efficiency and strengthens confidence between the government, contractors and host communities,” Watchman stated.

He therefore called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Presidency to look beyond the recommendation of the House subcommittee and consider a comprehensive review of the pipeline surveillance architecture across the Niger Delta.

Watchman urged the Federal Government to develop a decentralised framework that guarantees equitable participation among qualified indigenous stakeholders, establishes transparent selection criteria, strengthens oversight and introduces measurable performance targets tied to the protection of national oil and gas infrastructure.

He maintained that the objective should be to create a system capable of supporting a sustainable increase in crude oil production, with the potential to exceed two million barrels per day, subject to prevailing operational conditions, national production capacity and other industry constraints.

“The President must do the right thing by decentralising pipeline surveillance across the Niger Delta. The region cannot continue to operate under arrangements that leave significant stakeholders feeling excluded while the country struggles to maximise the benefits of its natural resources.

“Fairness, accountability, effectiveness and efficiency must be the guiding principles. The government should bring capable people on board, empower host communities through a transparent system and ensure that every operator is held to measurable standards.

“We believe that a properly structured decentralised arrangement can contribute to improved security, stronger community cooperation and increased crude oil production. Nigeria needs every legitimate effort that can help protect its oil assets and strengthen the national economy.

“The Niger Delta is not asking for special treatment. We are asking for fairness, inclusion and a system that recognises the capacity of our people to contribute to the security and development of their own region,” he concluded.

Watchman's intervention comes against the backdrop of the House Committee on Host Communities' adoption of a subcommittee report dismissing allegations of financial mismanagement and other improprieties against PINL and its managing director, Osahon Okunbor, as unsubstantiated.

According to the committee's report, the petitioners failed to appear despite three invitations issued on September 14, September 22 and October 5. The committee also stated that the petitioners neither sent representatives nor submitted documentary evidence to substantiate their allegations.

Following the adoption of the report at a special sitting on Tuesday, the committee recommended that the Federal Government extend PINL's pipeline surveillance contract.