Niger Delta stakeholders and ethnic nationalities have issued a stark warning to President Bola Tinubu, cautioning that unless immediate steps are taken to address policy imbalances in the region, the area could descend into another cycle of conflict, particularly over pipeline and oil and gas infrastructure surveillance contracts.
Strategic Meeting in Port Harcourt
In a communiqué released after a strategic meeting held in Port Harcourt, the Niger Delta Stakeholders Forum and the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities expressed deep concern over the current trajectory. The groups, comprising community leaders, youth representatives, former agitators, and opinion leaders, noted that signs reminiscent of past conflicts are re-emerging.
Call for Preemptive Action
“We speak not merely as stakeholders, but as individuals and leaders who have lived through the cycles of conflict, peace, accountability, betrayal, and reconstruction that continue to define the security architecture of the Niger Delta region,” the communiqué stated. The groups urged the president to learn from history and correct the current imbalance before it escalates.
They emphasised that the Niger Delta has experienced crises before and the warning signs are clear. “If the current trajectory is not urgently corrected, the consequences may once again be severe, not just for the Niger Delta, but for Nigeria as a whole,” they added.
Decentralisation of Pipeline Contracts
The stakeholders justified their call for decentralising pipeline surveillance contracts, pointing to the success under former President Goodluck Jonathan. During his tenure, oil production peaked when contracts were decentralised, fostering a sense of ownership among host communities. In contrast, the current centralised system has failed to meet the country’s OPEC quota despite higher spending.
The groups urged President Tinubu to protect peace institutions from politicisation and restore equity, fairness, and confidence in the system. They warned that failure to act could lead to severe consequences for the entire nation.
