Ex-militants from Akwa Ibom State have threatened to shut down crude oil production within their territory if the Federal government fails to revoke the N48 billion pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tompolo.
The threat was contained in a petition addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, copied to security agencies at the weekend.
Endorsed by General Johnson Solomon, State Coordinator and Comrade Godwin Edohoaqua, State Secretary of the forum, the group said it is wrong for the Federal government to award contract for the surveillance of oil pipelines passing through Akwa Ibom State, without engaging youths from the locality whose communities have suffered environmental degradation over the years, as a result of oil exploration and exploitation by oil companies operating in the State.
The Federal government recently renewed a N4 billion monthly contract for the surveillance of oil pipelines to a former leader of the movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Mr. Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo.
But the group’s statement called on the Federal government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) to revoke the contract with Tompolo to accommodate former Niger Delta agitators from Akwa Ibom State, noting that most of the oil and gas pipelines pass through the State.
They said: “In 2015, when President Goodluck Jonathan was about to hand over to President Muhammadu Buhari, ex-militants from Akwa Ibom State in our numbers protested to the National Assembly against similar contract which did not accommodate us.
“Leadership of the National Assembly with Heads of security agencies received our protest letter and assured us that Akwa Ibom ex-militants will be accommodated in future contracts.
“It is wrong for the Federal government to shortchange the youths of Akwa Ibom State by awarding such a bogus contract to a sectional former leader of ex-militants, while gas and oil pipelines cris-cross our land, but we are not engaged, we won’t accept such marginalisation.
“We are giving the Federal Government a seven day ultimatum to address the situation or we will embark on a marathon protest that will shut down Oil and Gas production activities in Akwa Ibom State.
“Our youths have refused to be involved in Oil theft and pipeline vandalism because of our patriotism for Nigeria and the agreement we signed with the Federal Government during Amnesty, but that should not be a criteria for us to be marginalised in the award of such a contract,” they stressed.
The group, a coalition of Niger Delta Youths, however, advised the Federal government to award the contract in sections to accommodate youths of all the oil producing states in the region to avoid renewed agitation and possible negative actions that would defeat the purpose of Government intentions.
“We are familiar with the terrain and pipeline routes running across the State and only youths from Akwa Ibom State can protect the pipelines better than a visitor, if our youths are engaged in such a project, the rate of unemployment will reduce,” the group concluded.