Itsekiri demands pipeline surveillance contracts for host communities

Protesters under the aegis of the Warri Indigenous Other folks Circulate on Wednesday demanded that the Federal Executive and the Nigerian National Petroleum Firm Cramped (NNPCL) appreciate the provisions of the Petroleum Exchange Act (PIA) within the award of pipeline surveillance contracts.

The group furthermore entreated the govtto discontinue the award of pipeline surveillance contracts in Itsekiri communities to contributors they list as outsiders and perceived adversaries.

The demonstrators, led by their Chairman, Kingsley Tenumah, and Long-established Secretary, Comrade Monoyo Edon, wielded placards with inscriptions akin to “NNPC Must Obey the Petroleum Exchange Act and Award All Surveillance Contracts on Itsekiri Fatherland to Itsekiris,” and “National Security Adviser Must Intervene and Name NNPCL to Repeat to Obey the PIA.”

The group which submitted a petition addressed to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and dated June 18, 2025, acknowledged the govts persisted exclusion of host communities from security-related contracts violates the spirit of the Petroleum Exchange Act (PIA), which, basically based entirely on them, promotes the narrate involvement of oil-bearing communities within the protection of extreme infrastructure.

The group issued a seven-day ultimatum, threatening to embark on soundless protests and various civil actions if their demands were no longer addressed.

The petition learn in share: “The government’s persisted resolution to award pipeline surveillance, security and maintenance contracts in our group to contributors and corporations affiliated with our sworn enemies has created an untenable grief. This be aware no longer best undermines our group’s neatly-being but furthermore poses a necessary menace to our security and security.

“As a bunch group, we are entitled to certain rights and advantages under the laws, in particular with the advent of the Petroleum Exchange Act (PIA). We flee your place of work, as a topic of urgency, to utter the govtto rescind its pipeline surveillance, security and maintenance contract award processes that traverse the Itsekiri group.

“Your Excellency, we extra bring to your consideration a disturbing grief where an particular particular person has been making arrogant feedback about our group’s numbers being insignificant, despite our indelible contributions to the nation’s economy.

“This particular particular person has been belittling our importance on fable of his company enjoys surveillance contracts awarded in our enviornment as an different of every and each host group having such accountability as enshrined within the PIA.”

The group then called for the establishment of a transparent and handsome contract award job that prioritises the pursuits of the host group.

“Your Excellency, in gentle of the above, we flee you to take prompt action to handle our concerns and demands. We require a response to our demands internal seven days from the date of receipt of this petition. Failure to answer or take necessary action can also lead to extra action, including protests and various sorts of soundless demonstration.

“We hope that which chances are high you'll take our demands severely and work in direction of discovering a resolution that advantages our group.

“We believe and think within the neutrality, dignity, and trustworthiness of the NSA. Given your pedigree and historic previous of professionalism, we are confident that which chances are high you'll handle this topic with the seriousness and fairness it deserves,” the group added.