IYC faults Diri’s position on pipelines surveillance contracts
The All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, reviewed Federal Government’s efforts in securing oil installations and infrastructure, submitting that such efforts are capable of reversing the country’s losses, which was put at $46.16 billion within 11 years, by the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).
The agency’s record also showed that between 2009 and 2020, the country lost about 619.7 million barrels of crude to theft.
The ruling party, which spoke through its South South Zonal Organising Secretary, Blessing Agbomhere, expressed optimism that the Federal Government’s war against oil theft in the Niger Delta would boost the country’s revenue amid a dwindling economy.
The party noted that the recruitment of competent private security firms with the wherewithal is responsible for the successes being recorded in the onslaught against oil theft.
Agbomhere expressed delight that former Niger Delta militant commander, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, is justifying the confidence reposed in him by the government in the anti-oil theft war.
Reacting to the arrest of a Vessel at an offshore location in Bayelsa State where it was loading stolen crude.
The IYC said it could have ignored the remark made by the Governor through his deputy Governor, Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, but because such is coming out from the Governor general of Ijaw Nation that is supposed to at all time protect the interests of the people, the council is coming out to correct the wrong impression created before the Federal Government of Nigeria and to Nigerians in general.
While commending the Federal Government of for engaging private firms for the protection of oil and gas facilities in the region, the apex Ijaw youth body, reiterated that award of the contracts to indigenous firms was one of the best decision taken so far by the Nigeria Government as it is in-line with the local content laws of the country.
IYC stated further that the Ijaw people in the Niger Delta region is particularly lauding the private firms for effectively handling the pipeline surveillance contract as Council have full confidence on them to continue to carry out their duties.
The statement however, stated that while the Federal Government is on the right track for engaging these private firms, it argued that the Ijaws deserved more than mere pipeline surveillance contract as the people must be given the opportunity to participate in the oil and gas sector and proper political inclusion of the people in the Government.
