Afrigather Youths within the Niger Delta area have urged President Bola Tinubu to assessment the present pipeline surveillance contract awarded to personal agency, Tantita Safety Providers Nigeria Restricted.
Collins Idowu, spokesperson of the youths, underneath the aegis of Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders, talking with journalists on Thursday in Abuja, expressed concern that entrusting the safety of the nation’s oil infrastructure in non-public people as an alternative of the navy poses a major menace to the soundness of Nigeria’s financial spine.
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He argued that the surveillance of oil pipelines couldn’t be positioned within the fingers of people with a historical past of militancy.
Idowu mentioned that the decision was in gentle of the tragic incident that resulted within the lack of 17 troopers in Okuama, Delta State.
“Firstly, we specific our deepest condolences to the households, buddies, and comrades of the 17 valiant troopers who had been slain. Their sacrifice doesn’t go unnoticed, and of their reminiscence, we stand in solidarity with the Nigerian Military.
“We urgently draw the eye of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, to the present pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Safety Providers Nigeria Restricted.
“With respect to nationwide safety and the integrity of our nation’s financial system, we implore the president to critically reassess this contract. The entrusted safety of our oil infrastructure can’t, by any means, be positioned within the fingers of people with a historical past of militancy, which poses a major menace to the soundness of Nigeria’s financial spine”, he mentioned.
The spokesperson famous that the Niger Delta youths we’re conscious of the advanced financial panorama of Nigeria and firmly consider that the surveillance of oil pipelines, notably inside the Niger Delta and Delta State, shouldn’t be relegated to entities with questionable backgrounds.
“It’s crucial to spotlight that the preliminary non-award of this contract by President Muhammadu Buhari, solely to be later granted underneath controversial circumstances, suggests potential conflicts of curiosity involving stakeholders in Tantita.
“President Tinubu, your management has been marked by quite a few commendable initiatives, and your dedication to the nation’s progress is nicely recognised.
Nevertheless, we’re compelled to query the prudence of entrusting our essential financial property to those that have beforehand orchestrated disruptions within the sector. The potential for regression is immense if the safety measures round our oil pipelines are perceived as being within the fingers of militants, which might lead to catastrophic penalties for future governmental transitions”, Idowu mentioned.
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Idowu, subsequently, urged the president to take a decisive motion to guard the nation’s future and financial stability.
He additionally said the dedication of the youths to offering any help mandatory, together with intelligence, to apprehend these answerable for the killing of the troopers.
