Niger Delta Stakeholders Demand Pipeline Surveillance Overhaul

Stakeholders in the Niger Delta, through the Niger Delta Stakeholders Forum (NDSF), have called for an immediate dismantling of Nigeria's current pipeline surveillance contract framework. They describe it as flawed and ineffective, lacking accountability and transparency.

The forum's Secretary, Alay Theophilus, stated that the existing system fails to deliver on its core mandate and has raised serious national security concerns. Following a recent parliamentary roundtable on pipeline security, the forum concluded that the current surveillance architecture exposes deep structural weaknesses.

They criticized the existing arrangements for lacking transparency and excluding critical stakeholders from the review process. The NDSF argues that a credible review of pipeline security requires full disclosure of operational mandates and performance metrics for contractors involved.

The stakeholders emphasize the need for a transparent and decentralized accountability system capable of addressing crude oil theft and safeguarding national assets.