Niger Delta youths protest at NASS, submit petition to Akpabio over pipeline surveillance issue
Godswill Akpabio, the president of the Nigerian Senate, has received a petition from the Coalition of Niger Delta Youths regarding persistent pipeline surveillance concerns.
During a nonviolent demonstration at the National Assembly on Wednesday, the teenagers handed their petition to the Senate President, calling for the decentralisation of pipeline contracts.
The coalition was at the National Assembly to demand a fair settlement for their people, according to Emaluji Michael Sunday, National Secretary of the United Niger Delta Congress (UNDC), who spoke to the media.
According to the Coalition, “The demand for decentralisation of pipeline surveillance operations is a cry for justice, not just fairness.”
“Our people have endured the side effects of oil production and exploration for much long without benefiting from it.
“They pointed out that community involvement in the oil and gas sector is made possible by the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, which President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law in 2021.
“We insist on the implementation of this clause. “The host community shall be entitled to participate in the management of the petroleum operations in their area,” according to Chapter 3, Section 257 of the PIA.
“Instead of being given to a single family or individual, we demand that the pipeline surveillance contracts be decentralised and distributed throughout the Niger Delta region’s states as our shared heritage. “This is the only way to guarantee equity, openness, and benefit distribution.”
“Localising pipeline surveillance will greatly improve security in our area.There will be a noticeable decrease in oil theft, vandalism, and other types of sabotage when our people participate in the defence of these pipelines. “This will boost economic growth in our communities and generate jobs in addition to increasing revenue for our government.”
