Ondo ex-militants demand decentralisation of pipeline surveillance contracts

The Niger Delta Coastline Vanguard (NDCV) in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have called for immediate decentralisation of the pipeline surveillance contracts by President Bola Tinubu to ensure total peace and security in the Niger Delta region.

The former militants also demanded for the review the existing policy on the decentralization of the new oil pipelines surveillance project, expressed their satisfaction over the award of the contract to other ex-militant group from another state and ethnic nationals in the area, describing the development as unfair.

The NDCV made this call in a letter to President Tinubu and signed by its National President Omotuwa Job and the Secretary, Chief Lucky Ajiroba, who urged the President to accommodate leaders of ex-militants in Ondo, Ogun and Lagos State to avoid imminent crisis in the region.

The group disclosed that leaders of ex-militants have been sidelined in the scheme of things in their environment despite being an oil producing community, but noted that they have been denied the opportunity to maintain those pipelines.

They however, called on President Tinubu to intervene in the marginalization and stop the disrespect to the south-west region and said any attempt to impose someone from another region and does not belong to the region would be resisted.
The letter read: “We write to drawn your attention to the plans by the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation Limited to re-award the pipeline surveillance contracts to some Ex-militant leaders in the Niger Delta region to carry out security monitoring of pipeline vandals.

“It is on this basis we are calling for the review of the existing policy on the decentralization of the new surveillance project to accommodate leaders of ex-militants in Ondo, Ogun and Lagos State to avoid imminent crisis in the region.

“The Niger Delta Coastline Vanguard (NDCV) in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State is a group of ex-militants who, under the Presidential Amnesty Program submitted weapons and were granted pardoned in 2017 with a promise to be properly integrated into the Federal Government Amnesty program with all accrued benefits.

“We established Forest Camp in Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government Areas of Ondo State. The Ilaje covers the entire 120kms coastline and 80% of the water ways in the state.

“You cannot be taking everything from our environments through pipelines and still denied us the opportunity to maintain those pipelines”

The NDCV said they would resist attempts to foist ex-militants from South-east or South-south on the South-west axis of the coastline which comprises mainly Ilaje and Ese-Odo local government areas of Ondo state.

The NDCV stated further that “We are aware of the serious implication the neglect of this agitation could cause to the region, more so, when the contract is awarded to person who is not too familiar with the region.

“We are also very much comfortable with the tremendous peace being enjoyed at the moment and we want it to continue. On this note we demand for the followings for peace to reign in the region.

“Decentralization of the pipeline surveillance contract to accommodate NDCV to cover Ondo, Ogun and Lagos State littoral corridor.
That NDCV has the capacity, the required intelligence and human resources to collaborate with the federal government in the surveillance of pipeline and anti-bunkering activities in the area.

“That NDCV is familiar with the terrain for effective and efficient output. That we shall not allow or accept any deliberate attempt by government or agent of government to impose someone from another region who does not belong to our ethnic nationality on us to sustain the existing peace in the region.

“We call on Mr President to intervene in this and stop this disrespect to our region (South West)”.