The Eastern Youths Coalition for Equity has voiced apprehension over the allocation of pipeline surveillance contracts by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to various companies in the southern and eastern states. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the coalition expressed dissatisfaction with the involvement of non-indigenous companies in the eastern region and called for changes in the contract allocation process. The group, representing youth leaders from Abia, Anambra, and Imo states, urged the Federal Government to ensure the participation of local youths in the surveillance contracts, emphasizing the importance of community engagement for effective monitoring of crude oil facilities.
The convener, Edwin Nkwede, highlighted the division of the pipeline surveillance contract into the Eastern, Central, and Western corridors. While Pipeline Infrastructure Limited and Tantita Security Services Limited secured contracts for the Eastern and Central/Western corridors, concerns were raised about the fair distribution of contracts in the eastern region. The coalition stressed the inclusion of local youths in the contracts and called on the Federal Government to address these concerns through legal channels.
To put into proper perspective, the Eastern Youths Coalition for Equity is an offshoot of a stakeholders meeting by selected youth leaders from the eastern region of Nigeria which held in Umuahia, Abia State.
“At the meeting, issues pertaining the welfare of the Igbo region were enumerated and discussed.
“On the front burner of our griefs as a coalition is the manner the pipeline surveillance contract awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to several companies, was handled.
“As a group, we have gathered from available records that the pipeline surveillance contract was split into the Eastern corridor, Central corridor and Western corridor.
“While Pipeline Infrastructure Limited, owned and managed by the Olu of Warri and family, secured the contract for the eastern corridor, Tantita Security Services Limited owned and managed by the ex-agitator of Ijaw, Chief Ekpemupolo Government alias Tompolo, got the central and western corridors,’’ he said.
