Ijaw youths, under the aegis of Ijaw Youths Network (IYN), have called on stakeholders in the Niger Delta to support the pipeline protection contract awarded by the Federal Government towards checking oil theft in the country.
DAILY POST reports that the award of the contract to Tantita Security Services Limited generated bad blood among several Niger Delta stakeholders, as many influential persons kicked against the development.
However, stressing the need to put an end to oil theft in the country, the IYN, in a statement by its Coordinator, Frank Ebikabo, and Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, on Tuesday, urged Niger Delta stakeholders who indicated interest in the execution of the contract to support the effective implementation of the project.
The youth organisation noted that the Niger Delta and indeed Nigeria would have more to gain if oil theft if stopped, and as a result, appealed against any recourse to sabotage against the pipeline protection project.
Noting that the award and renewal of the contract went through a competitive bidding process, the IYN observed that the project, which is central to the nation’s economic interests, cannot be based on sentiments.
The group further observed that, in the first phase of the execution of the contract, 17,500 youths in the Niger Delta were enlisted in the fight against oil thieves.
The IYN, in the same vein, urged the contractor to again engage the youths of the region in the task of protecting oil pipelines in the second phase of the project.
The Ijaw youths also urged the contractor to extend the hand of fellowship to all stakeholders, including those who opposed its bid for the contract.
Ebikabo and Ebiaridor, in the jointly signed statement, also urged the contractor to ensure an increase in crude oil production, so as to justify the confidence reposed in the company, and by extension, stakeholders of the Niger Delta, by President Bola Tinubu and the management of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL.
“The Ijaw Youth Network met at Gelegelegbene, Edo State, on Thursday to deliberate on issues of interest affecting the Ijaw nation prominent among which was the issue of opposition against the Tantita Security Services Limited.
“Congress called on all indigenes of the Niger Delta who made unsuccessful attempts to get the contract for pipeline protection to join forces with Tantita to fight the dangerous oil thieves in Nigeria.
“Tantita should note that it is carrying a heavy burden and responsibility with the trust reposed on the firm by the President and the leaders of the petroleum sector,” the statement said.
The IYN further canvassed the engagement of youths in the campaign against oil theft.
