When Contracts Divide a Struggle: Ijaw Publishers’ Forum Urges Niger Delta Leaders To Pursue Oil Blocs, Justice, And Development
The Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF) has issued a passionate call for unity among stakeholders in the Niger Delta, warning that the ongoing disagreements over pipeline surveillance contracts risk distracting the region from its fundamental struggle for environmental justice, resource control, and equitable development.
Addressing journalists during a press conference on April 2, 2026, the President of the IPF, Comrade Ozobo Austin, said the public quarrels among ex-agitators and key actors in the Niger Delta over pipeline surveillance contracts were unfortunate and potentially damaging to the broader goals of the region.
According to him, while the pipeline surveillance contract has become the subject of heated debates and accusations in recent months, the controversy should not overshadow the deeper challenges confronting the oil-rich region.
“The attention of the Ijaw Publishers’ Forum has been drawn to the recent distractions and misdirection of focus in the struggle for self-determination and justice for the oppressed people of the Niger Delta,” Ozobo said.
He stressed that the IPF, which he described as an intellectual arm of the Ijaw struggle, was deeply concerned that leaders who once stood together to fight for the liberation and development of the region were now engaged in disputes over contracts that represent only a small fraction of the region’s economic potential.
Pipeline Surveillance Should Not Be The Central Issue
For years, the Nigerian government has engaged private security firms to monitor oil pipelines in the Niger Delta, a region historically plagued by oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and environmental degradation.
One of the companies involved in the surveillance arrangement is Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, a firm linked to former militant leader Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
While the company has received both praise and criticism since it was awarded the contract, the IPF believes that the debate surrounding the arrangement has become unnecessarily divisive.
Ozobo explained that pipeline surveillance contracts are not exclusive to any single firm and that several private companies currently participate in the monitoring and protection of oil infrastructure in the region.
He therefore cautioned against portraying the contract as though it were monopolized by one individual or organization.
“Tantita is not the problem, and neither is Tompolo,” he said firmly.
According to the forum, the participation of Tantita in pipeline surveillance has produced visible gains, including the creation of jobs for youths in the region, improved security along oil pipelines, and a significant rise in Nigeria’s daily crude oil production.
The group argued that instead of allowing the issue to divide the region’s leadership, stakeholders should acknowledge these gains while pushing for more meaningful economic participation in the oil and gas industry.
A Call For Strategic Focus
The IPF emphasized that the Niger Delta struggle has historically been anchored on critical demands such as environmental justice, resource control, and self-determination.
However, the forum lamented that these issues have gradually faded from the center of public discourse.
“It is disheartening that key actors in the Niger Delta have abandoned the core demands of environmental justice, resource control, self-determination, and the implementation of the National Conference report convened during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan,” Ozobo said.
He explained that the focus on pipeline surveillance contracts represents a major deviation from the original objectives of the Niger Delta movement.
According to the forum, the region should instead prioritize pressing the Federal Government to implement policies that ensure the people of the Niger Delta benefit directly from the wealth generated from their land.
Among the key demands highlighted by the IPF are the relocation of the operational headquarters of International Oil Companies (IOCs) to the Niger Delta and the allocation of oil blocs to indigenous entrepreneurs from the region.
The group argued that such measures would create employment opportunities, stimulate local economies, and empower communities that have historically borne the environmental burden of oil exploration.
The Paradox Of Wealth And Poverty
The Niger Delta remains Nigeria’s primary source of crude oil and natural gas, generating billions of dollars in revenue for the country over the past several decades.
Yet, despite this enormous wealth, many communities in the region continue to suffer from poverty, environmental destruction, and lack of basic infrastructure.
The IPF described this contradiction as one of the greatest injustices facing the region.
Oil exploration activities have caused severe environmental damage across the Niger Delta, contaminating rivers, destroying farmlands, and disrupting traditional livelihoods such as fishing and farming.
Communities have repeatedly complained about oil spills, gas flaring, and other environmental hazards that threaten both human health and the ecosystem.
Despite numerous government interventions and development agencies established to address these issues, many residents believe that progress has been slow and insufficient.
Ozobo said the time had come for the people of the Niger Delta to refocus their energy on demanding real solutions from both the Federal Government and multinational oil companies operating in the region.
The Need For Unity Among Leaders
One of the strongest messages delivered by the IPF was the need for unity among leaders and stakeholders in the Niger Delta.
The forum expressed concern that disagreements among influential figures in the region were increasingly being aired in the media, creating an impression of division and weakening the collective voice of the Niger Delta.
“It is our candid advice that leaders and stakeholders should learn to settle their differences in-house rather than in the media space,” Ozobo said.
He warned that public confrontations could undermine the credibility of the region’s leadership and distract attention from the larger struggle for justice.
The forum also appealed to leaders to avoid what it described as the “pull-him-down syndrome,” urging them instead to adopt a spirit of solidarity and mutual respect.
According to the IPF, the principle of collective responsibility should guide the actions of leaders in the Niger Delta.
“An injury to one is an injury to all,” the group emphasized, calling for greater cooperation among political leaders, ex-agitators, traditional rulers, and community representatives.
Beyond Contracts: A Vision For The Future
While acknowledging that contracts such as pipeline surveillance can provide temporary employment and income, the IPF believes that the long-term prosperity of the Niger Delta depends on more strategic economic participation in the oil industry.
The forum proposed several measures aimed at transforming the region’s economic landscape.
These include granting oil blocs to indigenous investors, ensuring that pipeline construction and drilling contracts are awarded to companies owned by Niger Delta entrepreneurs, and establishing new states to enhance political representation.
In addition, the forum called for the rebuilding of communities that were devastated by years of conflict and militancy.
It also urged the Federal Government and international oil companies to take responsibility for the environmental damage caused by decades of oil exploration.
According to the IPF, affected communities deserve adequate compensation, environmental remediation, and meaningful development projects.
A Renewed Call For Justice
As the press conference concluded, the Ijaw Publishers’ Forum reiterated that the struggle for resource control, environmental justice, and self-determination remains far from over.
The group warned that the people of the Niger Delta cannot afford to be distracted by internal disputes at a time when the region still faces enormous challenges.
“We demand concrete and measurable action from the government and oil companies to ensure that the wealth of the Niger Delta benefits its people,” Ozobo said.
He added that the future of the region depends on the ability of its leaders to unite around a common vision for development and justice.
For the IPF, the message is clear: the Niger Delta must move beyond quarrels over contracts and refocus on the larger battle for dignity, prosperity, and environmental restoration.
Only through unity and strategic advocacy, the forum believes, can the region secure the future that its people deserve.
Source: Daily Newspaper
Homepage: https://globalegberi.com.ng/wp
Author: Dr. Odimientimi Agbedeyi
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