The delicate equilibrium of peace in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta has once again become the subject of intense national discourse as prominent former militant leaders have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently decentralise the pipeline surveillance contracts currently operating across the region.
The call was spearheaded by the outspoken ex-agitator popularly known as General Shoot-at-Sight, alongside fellow former militant leader Boy-Loaf, during a strategic gathering of Niger Delta stakeholders. The meeting was reportedly held at the palace of Ateke Tom, a historically influential figure in the Niger Delta struggle whose role in the region’s transition from militancy to relative peace remains widely acknowledged.
The leaders argued that concentrating pipeline surveillance responsibilities in the hands of a single contractor undermines the collective contributions of numerous stakeholders who once championed the agitation for resource justice and environmental fairness in the Niger Delta.
Demand for Inclusive Security Structure
Speaking during the meeting, General Shoot-at-Sight stressed that the surveillance arrangement previously operated more efficiently when contracts were distributed among different stakeholders across oil-producing states.
According to him, the decentralised model allowed local leaders and community actors to monitor pipelines within their territories, thereby creating a network of grassroots intelligence that helped curb pipeline vandalism and oil theft.
He warned that excluding key stakeholders who once sacrificed greatly for the region’s stability could breed resentment and weaken the fragile peace that currently exists.
The former militant leader emphasised that protecting Nigeria’s vast network of pipelines—stretching through creeks, mangrove forests and remote communities—requires a collaborative framework that recognises the diversity of actors within the Niger Delta.
Boy-Loaf’s Warning to the Federal Government
Echoing similar concerns, Boy-Loaf cautioned that entrusting the surveillance of the entire Niger Delta pipeline infrastructure to a single operator is neither realistic nor sustainable.
He urged the Tinubu administration to revisit the arrangement in the interest of fairness and long-term stability, noting that no individual possesses the logistical capacity to effectively manage surveillance across the vast oil-producing terrain.
Boy-Loaf maintained that decentralising the contracts would not only strengthen regional participation but also reinforce loyalty among former agitators who remain influential within their communities.
Stakeholders Reject Delay Until 2027
Also addressing the gathering, Niger Delta stakeholders insisted that restructuring the surveillance arrangement should not be postponed until after the 2027 elections.
They argued that the issue is primarily about economic inclusion, security, and sustainable peace rather than partisan politics.
According to the stakeholders, decentralisation would empower community-based surveillance teams, reduce oil theft, and create employment opportunities for thousands of youths living in oil-bearing communities.
Economic Stakes for Nigeria
Nigeria’s oil industry remains the backbone of the national economy, generating the bulk of government revenue and foreign exchange earnings. However, persistent pipeline vandalism and illegal oil bunkering have repeatedly reduced the country’s crude oil output.
Stakeholders believe that involving multiple regional actors in surveillance operations would restore community ownership of oil infrastructure and significantly reduce sabotage.
As debates around the pipeline surveillance contracts continue to intensify, the message from former Niger Delta agitators remains unmistakably clear: safeguarding the nation’s oil lifeline requires inclusiveness, fairness, and a governance structure that reflects the realities of the region.
Source: Punch Newspapers
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