Fubara criticises FG for giving ‘One Man’ the pipeline protection vontract

He claimed that because an individual cannot manage the assets located on another person’s area, the technique won’t produce the desired effects.

Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of Rivers State, slammed the federal government on Saturday for hiring “one man” to protect crude oil pipelines.

In Port Harcourt, the state capital, Fubara was visited by a delegation from the Federal Government focused on the security of oil and gas assets, led by Nuhu Ribadu, the NSA.

The government’s choice to award Tantita Security Services, headed by former militant leader Government Ekpemepulo aka Tompolo, a multi-billion naira pipelines surveillance contract, was justifiable, according to Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, in August 2022.

Despite not naming anyone, the governor of Rivers claimed that the Federal Government’s policy would not be successful since one person cannot control the assets located in another’s area.

Fubara urged the delegation to make sure that the results of their assignment would be advantageous to both the Federal and the state governments in light of the Federal Government’s neglect of the state.

He suggested that they interact with local residents to gain a better understanding of the situation in the Niger Delta region.

“Security of the pipeline should not be given to one man or one person,” the governor stressed. How is the pipeline in Ogoni under the authority of someone from Kalabari? It won’t work in any way.

“We need to think about inviting all the important figures from the various communities.

“Our two sons from Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom are in charge of the petroleum ministry. We want them to succeed. We must provide them with the required assistance.

In order to obtain the appropriate information, he suggested the delegation to speak with the appropriate personnel.

According to Fubara, Rivers’ previous governor, Nyesom Wike, led a fierce campaign against the unlawful refining of crude oil, and his administration won’t lower the standard.

According to him, the Niger Delta is not reaping as many benefits as it ought to given how much it contributes to the national economy.

The group is scheduled to visit Rivers and other Niger Delta states, according to the NSA, under President Bola Tinubu’s directives to put a halt to crude oil theft and illicit petroleum product definition.

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, were both members of the group that met with the NSA.

Muhammed Badaru, the minister of defence; Bello Matawalle, the minister of state for defence; Heineken Lokpobiri, the minister of state for petroleum resources (oil); and Ekperipe Ekpo, the minister of state for petroleum resources (gas).