Rivers Monarch Advocates for Broader Distribution of Pipeline Security Contracts in Niger Delta

The traditional ruler of Bakana, an oil-rich community in the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, His Royal Highness King Lawrence Odum Barboy, has voiced a strong opinion for the decentralisation and broader distribution of oil and gas pipeline security surveillance contracts across the Niger Delta region.

He expressed that the current system, which reportedly concentrates surveillance contracts with a single company for the entire region, is unsustainable. According to him, this practice contravenes standard public procurement procedures and hinders transparency, competition, and accountability.

The monarch stated that his appeal is motivated by the desire to enhance pipeline security, dismantle existing monopolies, ensure more equitable contract awards, and include stakeholders who possess the necessary capabilities and local understanding of the region.

In a statement he personally issued, King Barboy asserted that a decentralised strategy for pipeline surveillance would foster greater stability within oil- producing communities and potentially increase oil production throughout the Niger Delta.

He contended that the varied security challenges faced by different communities necessitate a tailored, decentralised approach, rather than a uniform, one-size-fits-all solution. King Barboy argued that assigning all surveillance contracts to a single company like Tantita Security Services is unlikely to achieve lasting peace or effectively combat oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

"It is neither fair, logical, nor sensible to grant all pipeline surveillance contracts in the Niger Delta to just one entity, thereby marginalising other competent individuals and community-based security organisations, some of which are led by traditional rulers who have significantly contributed to regional peace," he remarked.

The monarch pointed to Royal Fouche Security, also known as Amama Soldiers, as an instance of a local security group that actively safeguards lives, property, and oil infrastructure within the Degema Local Government Area and the broader Kalabari territory, yet has not been considered for federal surveillance contracts.

He further observed that despite the existing surveillance arrangements, incidents of oil theft, illegal bunkering, and pipeline damage continue to occur in Rivers State, casting doubt on the efficacy of the current monopolistic model.

Consequently, King Barboy implored President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, and the National Security Adviser to re-evaluate the existing framework for pipeline surveillance in the Niger Delta with the aim of promoting fairness, inclusivity, and regional stability.

The traditional ruler also voiced his dissatisfaction with what he described as the neglect of the Bakana community by Tantita Security Services, even though critical oil and gas assets, including OML-18 and major gas pipelines managed by NLNG and OANDO, are located in the area.

He claimed that leaders from the Bakana community have been unable to connect with the Tantita coordinator responsible for their area, alleging that their repeated attempts to communicate have been disregarded.

"We are requesting that they move their surveillance camps out of our territory, given that they do not acknowledge or respect our rights and traditional authority," the monarch stated.