A coalition of Isoko Youth Groups and Ex-agitators in the region have appealed to president Bola Tinubu to give Isoko national its pride of place by awarding to it pipeline surveillance contract in the Niger Delta.
Conveners, Iteveh Nur’ Ekpokpobe and Karo Edor, in a statement after a meeting with stakeholders also urged the President to implement the senate’s recommendation for Isoko Youths to be separately engaged by the federal government in the pipeline surveillance contract.
The group stressed that although the previous contract was awarded after series of considerations, it became obvious to the government that it was awarded with limited information available to the government at the time
The group argued that in 2022 the contract for the surveillance of oil pipeline in the entire region was awarded to Tantita Security owned by the family of Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) an Ijaw from Oporoza in Niger Delta without recourse to any Isoko or Urhobo representation, body or council.
According to the group, the contract was also done without consultations a subcontract to cover for the pipelines in Urhobo Nation was awarded to Zane Energy Limited owned by Urhobos. However, this contract was awarded with a spur into the Isoko axis.
The statement reads in parts, “This move was interpreted in its entirety to be a total disregard of Isoko nation and its vibrant youths in their capacity to man surveillance on crude oil facilities in the area.
In view of the awards of these subcontracts, eleven Isoko Youth Groups came together in a coalition to exhaust all legal channels to press home demands germane to the perceived marginalizatio”.
“As part of our engagements, several letters were written to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Office of the National Security Adviser, and the National Assembly amongst others.
“Following our efforts, the Nigerian Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions headed by Sen. Ayo Akinyulere, on instructions of the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, held on January 28, 2023 on the issues raised. The hearing was attended by the conveners of Coalition of Isoko Youths, President Generals of Isoko Communities in Bayelsa State, representative of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva and others”, it added.
“The Senate committee recommended at the end of the hearing, the need for the NNPC and the Federal Government to engage Isoko youths and stakeholders for keeping the peace and protecting crude oil installations in their areas ever since the beginning of exploration till date.
“We wish to appeal again to President Bola Tinubu to give Isoko Nation its rightful place in the next award of the Pipeline surveillance contracts”, it added.
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