Group Faults National Assembly On Pipeline Surveillance Roundtable

A fresh controversy has emerged over Nigeria’s pipeline security system as a coalition has criticised the recent National Assembly roundtable on oil pipeline surveillance, describing it as a mere show that failed to address key issues.

The group under the aegis of the Niger Delta Stakeholders Forum (NDSF) said the exercise, held at the House of Representatives, did not provide clear answers on the effectiveness of the current surveillance framework but instead exposed serious gaps in transparency and accountability.

In a statement signed by its secretary-general, Dr Alaye Theophilus, he alleged that the roundtable was stage-managed and failed to reflect a genuine effort to tackle crude oil theft and pipeline security challenges.

He said, “The Niger Delta Stakeholders Forum (NDSF) has reviewed the proceedings of the Parliamentary Roundtable on Pipeline Security and the Battle Against Crude Oil Theft held at the House of Representatives Old Chamber Hall on 8th April, 2026.

“Rather than providing clarity on the effectiveness of Nigeria’s pipeline surveillance architecture, what transpired at the National Assembly was a mere jamboree, stage-managed to deceive the general public and to cover up the failures and questionable activities surrounding the current surveillance system.

“The roundtable exposed deep structural weaknesses, a lack of transparency, and troubling national security implications within the current surveillance framework.

“The forum therefore reiterates its position that the existing pipeline surveillance contract framework is fundamentally flawed, non-performing, and must be dismantled and replaced with a transparent, decentralised and accountable system,” he said.

Alaye, who is the president, Ijaw Youth Council and president-general, Coalition of Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities, also faulted the National Assembly for allegedly failing to demand detailed operational reports from the contractors involved in pipeline surveillance.

He noted that although some contractors were mentioned during the session, no effort was made to request full performance data from all the operators within the system.

“If the objective of the engagement was to evaluate the effectiveness of Nigeria’s pipeline surveillance architecture, then a credible process would require full disclosure of the operational mandates, including well-head surveillance contracts, performance metrics, and accountability structures of all contractors involved.

“The National Assembly’s refusal or inability to demand such information only reinforces widespread public suspicion that the current surveillance structure lacks transparency and may primarily serve private interests rather than national interests,” he said.