...As They Call For The Decentralization of The Pipeline Surveillance Contracts Across The Nine Niger Delta States.

A coalition of Niger Delta youth groups, led by Dr. Alaye Tari Theophilus, on Tuesday stormed the National Assembly in Abuja in a peaceful protest to express outrage over the handling of pipeline surveillance contracts in the region. Dr. Theophilus, who serves as President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and also heads the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Coalition, was joined by youth leaders from across the oil-rich region.

The protest, organized by the Ijaw Youth Council led by Alaye Theophilus and the United Niger Delta Congress (UNDC), calling for the decentralisation of the N2.1 trillion pipeline surveillance contracts. Carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs, the demonstrators demanded urgent intervention from federal lawmakers, insisting that the current arrangement is unfair, opaque, and excludes key stakeholders at the grassroots level.

Speaking during the protest, Dr. Theophilus said the youths would no longer tolerate what he described as systemic exclusion and exploitation of the Niger Delta people. He warned that failure to address their concerns could trigger widespread unrest in the region if not addressed at an early stage.

The protesters raised alarm over alleged crude oil theft, claiming that Bonny crude is being stolen and transported to the American sea through illicit channels. They demanded transparency, stating that they want to identify those responsible for diverting the nation’s resources through the back door. According to them, enough is enough.

They further stressed that the Niger Delta has never been a conquered place and called for justice, equity, and fairness in the management of the region’s resources. From the information they are gathering, they alleged that some actors are using pipeline surveillance contracts as a platform for harmful activities, including the emergence of armed groups causing havoc in community affairs, creating suppression and division among local populations.

The coalition warned that if the situation is not handled promptly, it could lead to another full-blown conflict in the Niger Delta—an outcome the youth and people of the region strongly oppose. They therefore called on the National Assembly and relevant lawmakers to take proper steps to investigate these activities.

Since the emergence of these pipeline operators, the group noted that there have been allegations and counter-allegations of kidnapping, as well as claims of killings, all in the name of pipeline security contracts and coordination. They described the situation as one that could trigger serious unrest if left unchecked.

The protesters called on the National Assembly Committee to thoroughly probe the activities of pipeline contractors. They demanded to know the identities of the operators behind the pipeline reportedly intercepted in the American sea, adding that they have credible information suggesting it was owned and operated by Nigerians.

They described the level of exploitation as unacceptable and called for stronger oversight and accountability so that Nigeria, especially the Niger Delta, can benefit from its resources through improved infrastructure, human capital development, and youth empowerment. They insisted that the country cannot continue to allow a few individuals to collaborate with bad actors to secretly divert and steal national wealth for personal gain.

The coalition emphasized that decentralizing pipeline protection contracts is the way forward, noting that Nigeria can no longer afford to keep losing crude oil to theft. They urged wider inclusion of Niger Delta stakeholders to boost transparency, fairness, and efficiency in pipeline surveillance operations.

In a dramatic twist, the group also leveled serious allegations against Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, accusing him of collecting bribes from individuals allegedly linked to the controversial pipeline contracts. The claim, which was not immediately substantiated with evidence, has sparked fresh controversy and heightened political tension around the issue.

Similarly, the Coalition for Better Nigeria called for full transparency in the ongoing investigation into oil pipeline surveillance contracts awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. The group raised concerns over the alleged N2.1 trillion involved, describing the situation as one that demands urgent public scrutiny.

The coalition urged the Presidency, security agencies, and the National Assembly to carry out a thorough and unbiased investigation, stressing that Nigerians deserve to be fully informed about how public funds are being managed and spent. It also called for broader inclusion of stakeholders from across the Niger Delta states, emphasizing that expanding participation would help ensure fairness, improve efficiency, and strengthen oversight in pipeline surveillance efforts.