N'delta Group Denounces Solidarity Walk In Support Of Tantita Contract Renewal

*N'Delta Group Denounces Solidarity Walk in Support of Tantita Contract Renewal, Insists on Audit and Decentralisation* The Pan-Niger Delta Youth Forum has strongly denounced the “Peace, Unity and Solidarity Walk” held in Abuja today by some self-acclaimed youth leaders, describing it as an unrepresentative event driven by narrow personal interests rather than the collective will of the region. The Pan-Niger Delta Youth Forum, which brings together voices from Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urhobo, Isoko, Ogoni and other ethnic nationalities, stated that the position articulated by Jonathan Lokpobiri during the walk does not speak for the wider Ijaw nation or the people of the Niger Delta. A statement signed by Comrade Samson Edafe said: "We view Jonathan Lokpobiri as a failed President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) who has completely abandoned the vision and ideals of this once-prestigious group. "We recall with nostalgia when the IYC, under the leadership of Asari Dokubo and other notable past presidents, served as a credible and formidable platform for advancing the progress, development, and collective interests of the Ijaw nation and the broader Niger Delta region. "Today, under the watch of Jonathan Lokpobiri, the IYC has regrettably been reduced to a willing tool for advancing the self-serving interests of Lokpobiri and his cronies. It has become nothing more than a personal enterprise for escaping poverty and lack. "To forestall further embarrassment to the Ijaw Nation, we demand the immediate resignation of Jonathan Lokpobiri as President of the IYC." According to the group, the individuals essentially spoke for themselves and their immediate circle, adding that their claims lack endorsement from broader Niger Delta leadership, their immediate community, or even members of their families, many of whom view this stance as that of a sell-out motivated primarily by personal gain. The forum noted that the group appears to be a limited platform with little genuine grassroots recognition, consisting mainly of joiners advancing self-serving agendas. The Pan-Niger Delta Youth Forum expressed concern over the ongoing push to renew the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services without proper scrutiny. “Despite the substantial financial commitments made to the company, available statistics indicate that oil revenue generation has declined during the period of this arrangement,” the statement read. "Incidents of bunkering and illegal refining have continued in various parts of the region, with reports of intercepted vessels and persistent illegal activities highlighting gaps in the current setup.” The group argued that concentrating such a critical national responsibility in a single entity has created a monopoly that excludes many host communities and ethnic nationalities whose lands produce the oil, leading to feelings of marginalisation and undermining broader regional stability. “Mr. Lokpobiri and his allies are pushing for renewal while the mandate remains unfulfilled in many areas,” Comrade Edafe stated. “This does not reflect the true situation on the ground where challenges persist. "The Ijaw nation and other groups in the Niger Delta deserve better than this narrow endorsement that appears driven by personal pockets rather than regional development.” The Pan-Niger Delta Youth Forum emphasised that while everyone is entitled to express support for particular arrangements, such endorsements must not override the need for accountability. The forum pointed out that the Petroleum Industry Act underscores the central role of host communities in protecting oil and gas infrastructure, a principle that appears sidelined under the existing monopoly. “True progress in securing the nation’s pipelines requires more inclusive and competitive approaches rather than the continuation of a system that has yet to fully deliver on its mandate,” the statement declared. The Pan-Niger Delta Youth Forum therefore called on the Federal Government, the National Assembly and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to take a measured and transparent path forward. This includes conducting an independent forensic audit of the Tantita contract to evaluate its performance, utilisation of funds and overall impact on oil theft. The group also advocated for the decentralisation of surveillance responsibilities to competent local operators drawn from different ethnic nationalities and host communities. According to Edafe, such a step would foster greater participation, improve local intelligence gathering, introduce healthy competition and ensure more equitable benefits in line with the spirit of the Petroleum Industry Act. The forum urged all genuine stakeholders in the Niger Delta to focus on constructive engagement that prioritises national interest, transparency and sustainable development over isolated events that fail to address the region’s underlying challenges. "The Pan-Niger Delta Youth Forum advises these jobbers and their allies to find something productive to do, as they have failed their families, their immediate communities, and the entire Niger Delta region through their consistent pursuit of personal benefits at the expense of collective progress."

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