Ateke Tom, Others Meet On Pipeline Surveillance Contract

Former militant leaders and other stakeholders in the Niger Delta region, including King Ateke Tom, Alhaji Asari Dokubo and Chief Ajube Bibopiri, popularly known as ‘General Shoot-at-sight’ as well as Hon. Victor Ben Ebikabowei, popularly known as ‘General Boyloaf, met at Okochiri in Okrika local government area of Rivers State.

A source that was privy to the meeting, confirmed to journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday that it was convened to discuss ways and strategies for overseeing the pipeline surveillance contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

The source said those in attendance shared the objective of intensifying their efforts to combat oil theft in the area and agreed for the contract to be decentralized.

He said the meeting may mark the beginning of a united front against the persistent problem of oil theft in the region.

The source said the stakeholders were resolute in their commitment to boost collaborative endeavours aimed at safeguarding the pipelines and the interests of the NNPCL.

He stated that the collaborative approach has the potential to be a turning point in the ongoing struggle against oil theft, with far-reaching benefits for the entire region and the Nigerian economy.