“Don’t Sacrifice Niger Delta Peace To Protect A Few Interests!” — Ex-IYC President Warns Tinubu As Ozobo, Malafapha Demand Accountability From Ribadu

By Passman Akpos

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, is facing mounting criticism from Niger Delta stakeholders over the Federal Government’s approach to crude oil theft, pipeline surveillance contracts and the region’s longstanding grievances, with calls emerging for greater accountability, decentralisation of surveillance operations and, from one advocacy group, his removal from office.

The renewed controversy followed statements by the President of the Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative (IPDI), Comrade Ozobo Austin; former President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Dr. Alaye Tari Theophilus; and spokesperson of the Oppressed Citizens of the Niger Delta Region, Malafapha Destiny, who challenged the government’s approach to oil security and questioned whether protecting petroleum assets was being prioritised over the welfare of oil-producing communities.

While Ozobo argued that ending crude oil theft would not automatically resolve the Niger Delta’s historical grievances, Theophilus called for pipeline surveillance responsibilities to be decentralised to accommodate credible stakeholders across the oil-producing states.

Destiny went further, demanding Ribadu’s removal as NSA and alleging serious failures in the handling of oil-related security matters, including questions surrounding the interception of the Nigerian-owned supertanker Skipper by United States authorities.

The three interventions, issued on October 17, have intensified a broader debate about the relationship between oil production, regional security, environmental justice, contract allocation and the distribution of economic benefits from Nigeria’s petroleum resources.

‘You Cannot Secure Nigeria’s Oil And Abandon Its People’

In a statement dated October 17, Ozobo expressed strong disagreement with remarks attributed to Ribadu suggesting that resolving the Niger Delta crisis was central to solving Nigeria’s wider problems, with crude oil theft featuring prominently in the discussion.

The IPDI president argued that reducing the Niger Delta crisis to oil theft overlooks the historical, political, economic and environmental factors that have contributed to tensions between oil-producing communities and the Nigerian state.

He identified underdevelopment, marginalisation, environmental degradation, unemployment, resource control and perceived political injustice as issues that must be addressed alongside efforts to combat illegal petroleum activities.

According to Ozobo, stopping crude oil theft would not automatically end poverty, agitation, unemployment or complaints about pollution and inadequate infrastructure in communities hosting oil and gas facilities.

“We take strong exception to that position, as it is a gross misrepresentation of what the Niger Delta problem truly signifies,” he stated.

He maintained that the Federal Government must address the underlying grievances of the region rather than measure the success of its Niger Delta policy primarily through oil production figures and the protection of petroleum infrastructure.

“Solving the core issues of the Niger Delta will end oil theft, and not ending oil theft that will bring total peace and stability to the Niger Delta,” Ozobo argued.

The IPDI president also alleged that government and security officials had been involved in oil theft and related illegal activities. However, the statement did not provide specific evidence identifying the officials allegedly involved.

His allegations underscore the importance of transparent investigations into crude oil diversion, illegal bunkering, illegal refining and any potential involvement of public officials or security personnel.

‘What Has The Niger Delta Gained From Increased Oil Production?’

Ozobo questioned whether increased crude oil production and efforts to reduce oil theft had translated into measurable improvements in the living conditions of Niger Delta communities.

He specifically raised concerns about whether the region had experienced corresponding progress in environmental restoration, infrastructure, employment, economic opportunities and community welfare following the expansion of pipeline surveillance operations.

The IPDI president argued that protecting petroleum assets and increasing government revenue should not be treated as sufficient evidence that the Niger Delta’s development challenges have been resolved.

For communities living with the consequences of oil exploration, he maintained, the benefits of improved security should be reflected in tangible improvements in their daily lives.

Oil theft, illegal bunkering and illegal refining remain important security and economic concerns. However, Ozobo insisted that addressing these activities must go hand in hand with tackling pollution, poverty, unemployment and perceived political exclusion.

He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to demonstrate a broader commitment to resolving the grievances that have shaped relations between the Niger Delta and the Federal Government for decades.

The central question raised by his intervention is whether Nigeria can sustainably protect its petroleum resources without simultaneously addressing the social and environmental conditions affecting the communities from which the oil is extracted.

Former IYC President Warns Tinubu Against Excluding Niger Delta Stakeholders

In a separate intervention, former IYC President Dr. Alaye Tari Theophilus urged Ribadu to present President Tinubu with what he described as a comprehensive assessment of the Niger Delta’s security challenges, including concerns about the existing pipeline surveillance contract structure.

Theophilus acknowledged the importance of combating crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal refining but argued that security operations could be undermined if credible stakeholders across the oil-producing states felt excluded from decisions affecting their communities.

He cautioned the Presidency against relying on the perspectives of a limited number of influential individuals when making decisions with implications for the entire Niger Delta.

According to him, the contributions and sacrifices of individuals and groups involved in the region’s struggle should be considered when determining the future of regional security arrangements.

“The contributions and sacrifices of those who fought for the Niger Delta must not be forgotten or sidelined in decisions concerning regional security and the protection of national assets,” he said.

The former IYC president warned that a surveillance arrangement perceived as exclusive could deepen existing grievances and weaken the cooperation needed among host communities, security agencies and petroleum industry operators.

He therefore called for a system that would give competent and credible stakeholders across individual Niger Delta states meaningful opportunities to participate in protecting oil and gas infrastructure within their respective territories.

Why Theophilus Wants Pipeline Surveillance Contracts Decentralised

Theophilus argued that decentralising pipeline surveillance responsibilities should not be interpreted as an attempt to undermine existing contractors or disrupt ongoing security operations.

Instead, he presented the proposal as a means of broadening legitimate participation, strengthening accountability and improving community involvement in protecting critical petroleum infrastructure.

Under the arrangement he advocated, qualified stakeholders from different oil-producing states would have meaningful roles in surveillance operations within their territories, subject to established standards, legal requirements and effective oversight.

He argued that such a model could improve local intelligence gathering, strengthen community cooperation and create a greater sense of shared responsibility for protecting petroleum assets.

Theophilus also maintained that broader participation could help address concerns about representation while supporting the Federal Government’s objectives of increasing crude oil production and safeguarding national revenue.

“The NSA should be championing a structure that brings all credible stakeholders to the table, rather than one that creates the impression that pipeline surveillance is a privilege reserved for a select few,” he stated.

However, decentralisation would also raise questions about contractor selection, operational coordination, security standards, accountability and the prevention of competing interests from undermining effective pipeline protection.

Theophilus’s proposal therefore places transparency and credible selection processes at the centre of the debate over how surveillance responsibilities should be distributed.

Oppressed Citizens Demand Ribadu’s Removal

The controversy intensified after the Oppressed Citizens of the Niger Delta Region issued a statement through its spokesperson, Malafapha Destiny, condemning Ribadu’s reported remarks on oil theft and demanding his immediate removal as National Security Adviser.

Destiny argued that describing crude oil theft as the defining issue of the Niger Delta misrepresented the region’s longstanding grievances.

According to the spokesperson, decades of underdevelopment, economic hardship, political marginalisation, environmental destruction and insecurity must be considered when assessing the causes of instability in the oil-producing region.

“The NSA must understand that addressing the core socio-economic injustices of the Niger Delta is what will ultimately eliminate oil theft, and not the other way around,” Destiny asserted.

The advocacy group further alleged that illegal petroleum activities involved powerful actors within government institutions, security agencies and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd).

It also accused the current surveillance arrangement of concentrating significant responsibilities in the hands of a limited number of operators, arguing that the system should be reviewed to improve transparency and accountability.

The group specifically criticised Tantita Security Services, alleging serious abuses and questioning the concentration of surveillance responsibilities in the hands of a single major operator.

Those allegations remain claims by the advocacy group and would require independent investigation and corroborating evidence before they could be treated as established findings.

Destiny accused Ribadu of gross negligence, alleged conflicts of interest and what the group described as the commercialisation of regional security.

On those grounds, the group called on Tinubu to terminate Ribadu’s appointment.

The demand represents the group’s position on the controversy; it does not, by itself, establish wrongdoing by the NSA.

The Skipper Supertanker Raises Fresh Questions

Destiny also drew attention to the Skipper, a Nigerian-owned supertanker identified in the group’s statement as a 20-year-old Very Large Crude Carrier with IMO number 9304667 and managed by Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd.

The spokesperson said the vessel had been intercepted by the United States Coast Guard and the US Navy over allegations involving crude oil theft, piracy and transnational crime.

Destiny questioned what steps Nigerian security authorities had taken in response to the incident and why, in the group’s view, there had been no sufficiently transparent investigation into the vessel’s activities.

The group argued that the incident raised broader questions about offshore petroleum security, international cooperation and the possible movement of illegally obtained crude oil through maritime channels.

However, the allegations concerning the vessel, the circumstances of its interception and the actions taken by Nigerian authorities require independent verification through official statements and relevant investigative records.

The group’s criticism of Ribadu’s response should therefore be distinguished from any verified finding that the NSA or other Nigerian officials were involved in, or deliberately ignored, illegal activities connected with the vessel.

Nevertheless, the questions raised by Destiny point to an important accountability issue: how are allegations of large-scale petroleum-related crimes investigated when they involve vessels operating across international waters?

Ribadu’s Oil Security Framework Faces Questions Over Inclusion

The criticism comes amid efforts by the Federal Government to strengthen coordination across Nigeria’s oil and gas security architecture.

According to the material surrounding the controversy, Ribadu recently unveiled a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry-Wide Security Architecture, intended to harmonise security operations, clarify institutional responsibilities and improve cooperation among security agencies, regulators, petroleum operators and private pipeline surveillance contractors.

The framework addresses operational procedures relating to surveillance, arrests, detention and the evacuation of recovered petroleum products.

NNPC Ltd has also been described as endorsing the framework as a measure intended to strengthen petroleum asset protection, improve revenue assurance and restore investor confidence.

However, the concerns raised by Theophilus and Destiny focus on a question that operational procedures alone may not resolve: whether the wider surveillance arrangement provides adequate opportunities for qualified stakeholders and host communities to participate.

A framework may establish procedures for security operations, but concerns about contract allocation, community representation and accountability require additional transparency and engagement.

Theophilus urged the Presidency to use the security framework as an opportunity to improve consultation and widen legitimate participation without compromising operational effectiveness.

Whether the existing arrangements will be reviewed remains a matter for the relevant authorities.

Oil Revenue Versus Environmental Justice

At the centre of the controversy is a longstanding question about the relationship between petroleum revenue and development in the Niger Delta.

The region remains central to Nigeria’s oil industry, yet communities across the oil-producing states continue to raise concerns about pollution, inadequate infrastructure, unemployment and the distribution of benefits derived from natural resources.

For Ozobo, the Federal Government cannot claim to have resolved the Niger Delta crisis simply because crude oil theft declines or production increases.

He argued that protecting national revenue is a legitimate government responsibility but should not replace efforts to address environmental degradation, economic exclusion and development deficits.

For Theophilus, the distribution of pipeline surveillance responsibilities is also part of the discussion because it determines how participation in protecting petroleum assets is organised across the region.

Destiny’s intervention adds demands for accountability over maritime security and allegations of misconduct within the existing surveillance system.

Although their statements emphasise different issues, all three stakeholders argue that petroleum security should not be separated from the wider question of peace and development.

At the same time, the effectiveness of any proposed decentralisation would depend on transparent selection criteria, clearly defined responsibilities, independent oversight and compliance with applicable laws.

Five Questions Tinubu, Ribadu And NNPC Must Answer

The renewed controversy raises critical questions for the Presidency, the Office of the National Security Adviser, NNPC Ltd and other relevant authorities.

1. Is The Niger Delta Crisis Primarily A Security Problem Or A Development Challenge?

What measurable steps are being taken to address pollution, unemployment, infrastructure deficits, economic exclusion and other longstanding grievances in oil-producing communities?

2. Will The Federal Government Consider Decentralising Pipeline Surveillance Contracts?

What criteria currently guide the selection of surveillance contractors, and will qualified stakeholders across the Niger Delta states be given opportunities to participate?

3. How Transparent Is The Allocation Of Pipeline Surveillance Contracts?

What safeguards ensure that contract awards are based on competence, security requirements, accountability and value for public money?

4. What Actions Have Nigerian Authorities Taken Over The Skipper Incident?

Have the relevant Nigerian agencies issued formal statements, opened investigations or cooperated with US authorities over the reported interception and the allegations surrounding the vessel?

5. Can Lasting Peace Be Achieved Without Addressing Resource Control And Environmental Justice?

What concrete measures will the Tinubu administration implement to address the political, economic and environmental concerns that have contributed to agitation in the region?

These questions require clear answers supported by verifiable information, rather than accusations and counteraccusations alone.

The Final Test: Can Nigeria Protect Its Oil Without Alienating Its People?

The interventions by Ozobo Austin, Dr. Alaye Tari Theophilus and Malafapha Destiny have brought renewed attention to the relationship between oil security, regional representation and the longstanding grievances of Niger Delta communities.

Ozobo insists that ending crude oil theft without addressing underdevelopment, marginalisation and environmental injustice will not deliver lasting peace.

Theophilus argues that the Federal Government should consider a more inclusive approach to pipeline surveillance, with meaningful participation for credible stakeholders across the oil-producing states.

Destiny has gone further by demanding Ribadu’s removal and calling for investigations into allegations surrounding petroleum-related security operations, including questions about the Skipper.

Their demands are not findings of official investigations, and the allegations they raised require appropriate verification and responses from the institutions and individuals concerned.

Nevertheless, the debate raises a fundamental policy question for the Tinubu administration: can Nigeria sustainably secure its petroleum resources while failing to address the concerns of the communities that host the industry?

The answer will depend not only on oil production figures, recovered petroleum products or the number of pipelines protected, but also on transparent security arrangements, accountable institutions, environmental protection, economic opportunities and meaningful engagement with host communities.

The Niger Delta debate is therefore no longer confined to how Nigeria can stop oil theft. It also concerns how the country can protect its petroleum resources while building the trust, justice and development needed for lasting peace.

Whether the Federal Government will respond to the demands for broader participation, greater transparency and a more comprehensive development strategy remains to be seen.