“Niger Delta Is Not One Contractor’s Private Estate!” — Watchman Challenges Tinubu And Reps Over PINL Contract Extension, Demands End To Pipeline Surveillance Monopoly
By Passman Akpos
YENAGOA— Former Bayelsa State ex-agitator, Dr Ebebe Watchman, has challenged the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities over its recommendation to extend the pipeline surveillance contract of Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to decentralise pipeline surveillance operations across the Niger Delta.
Watchman argued that continuing with the existing arrangement without adequately addressing concerns about inclusion, accountability and equitable participation could deepen perceptions of marginalisation among oil-producing communities and qualified indigenous stakeholders.
His position comes after the House Committee on Host Communities adopted a subcommittee report dismissing allegations of financial mismanagement and other alleged irregularities involving PINL and its Managing Director, Osahon Okunbor, as unsubstantiated.
The committee also recommended extending the company’s pipeline surveillance contract and passed a vote of confidence in President Tinubu, the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other relevant stakeholders involved in pipeline security.
However, Watchman maintained that the controversy surrounding the contract should provide an opportunity for the Federal Government to reconsider the structure of pipeline surveillance across the Niger Delta rather than simply endorse an extension of the existing arrangement.
According to him, the central issue is whether the current system adequately protects national oil and gas infrastructure while ensuring that competent local stakeholders and host communities have meaningful opportunities to participate.
WATCHMAN ACCUSES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF MISSING THE BIGGER PICTURE
Reacting to the committee’s decision, the former Bayelsa ex-agitator criticised what he described as the National Assembly’s failure to address the underlying grievances associated with pipeline surveillance contracts in the Niger Delta.
He argued that parliamentary investigations should go beyond procedural considerations and examine whether existing arrangements are delivering fairness, accountability, security and sustainable benefits to the people of the region.
“The National Assembly and its subcommittees are part of the problem in the Niger Delta. Whenever the people expect meaningful intervention on issues affecting their lives, we are confronted with one drama or another, seemingly designed to satisfy political and personal interests rather than advance the collective interests of the region,” Watchman stated.
He questioned whether dismissing the petition and recommending a contract extension would resolve concerns about the distribution of surveillance opportunities among oil-producing states.
“Establishing a panel, inviting petitioners who subsequently fail to appear, dismissing allegations as unsubstantiated and then passing a vote of confidence in the existing arrangement by recommending an extension of the contract may satisfy a procedural requirement, but it will not resolve the underlying grievances in the Niger Delta,” he added.
Watchman insisted that the lawmakers should examine whether the existing framework is sufficiently inclusive and effective to protect oil infrastructure while ensuring that host communities benefit meaningfully from the resources extracted from their territories.
His criticism, however, represents his assessment of the committee’s decision and does not establish that the lawmakers acted improperly.
TINUBU URGED TO DECENTRALISE PIPELINE SURVEILLANCE ACROSS OIL-PRODUCING STATES
Watchman called on President Tinubu to introduce a decentralised pipeline surveillance framework that would give qualified stakeholders across Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta and other oil-producing states opportunities to participate in securing critical oil and gas infrastructure within their respective territories.
He argued that the Niger Delta has individuals with relevant experience, knowledge of local terrain and the capacity to support surveillance operations, but warned that concentrating responsibilities among a limited number of contractors could fuel resentment.
“Why should pipeline surveillance in the Niger Delta continue to operate under an arrangement that leaves capable stakeholders in several oil-producing states feeling excluded from the protection of resources located in their own territories?” he asked.
“We have capable people in Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta and other oil-producing states who understand their communities, the terrain, the dynamics and the factors that contribute to insecurity.
“These are people whose capacities should be recognised and integrated into a transparent and properly coordinated security framework.”
The former ex-agitator maintained that local participation could improve intelligence gathering, strengthen cooperation with host communities and help authorities respond more effectively to threats against pipelines.
He argued that a system that recognises qualified indigenous stakeholders could also reduce tensions arising from perceptions that some communities are benefiting disproportionately from contracts involving resources extracted from the wider region.
‘WE ARE NOT ASKING GOVERNMENT TO REMOVE PINL’
Watchman stressed that his demand for decentralisation should not be interpreted as a call for the termination of PINL’s contract or the removal of other existing operators.
Instead, he advocated restructuring the system to accommodate additional competent stakeholders under transparent and clearly defined conditions.
“We are not asking the Federal Government to stop other contractors from doing their jobs. We are asking the government to decentralise the system and carry along capable stakeholders who have been excluded,” he said.
“There is a clear difference between removing an existing contractor and creating a framework in which other competent operators can participate.
“Our demand is for fairness, inclusion, accountability and effectiveness. Nobody should monopolise an opportunity that concerns the security of an entire region when other qualified hands are available to contribute.”
He urged the Presidency to recognise that the security of oil and gas infrastructure is a national responsibility that requires effective coordination while accommodating legitimate local interests.
According to him, decentralisation should be designed to complement existing operations rather than create competing structures that could undermine security or compromise operational efficiency.
WATCHMAN NAMES BOYLOAF, ASARI DOKUBO, ATEKE TOM
As examples of indigenous stakeholders whose experience could be considered under a properly regulated framework, Watchman mentioned former militant leaders and Niger Delta figures, including Boyloaf in Bayelsa State, Asari Dokubo and Ateke Tom in Rivers State.
He also called for qualified indigenous stakeholders in Delta State and other oil-producing areas to be considered for participation within their respective territories.
“Boyloaf and other capable hands can be considered within a transparent framework for Bayelsa State. Asari, Ateke and other qualified stakeholders can be considered in Rivers State, while capable indigenous stakeholders in Delta and other oil-producing states should also be given opportunities to contribute to securing their territories,” he stated.
However, Watchman emphasised that participation should not be based solely on personal relationships, political influence or previous involvement in agitation.
He said every prospective operator must demonstrate competence, accountability, compliance with the law and the capacity to meet clearly defined performance standards.
“What we are advocating is not the replacement of one monopoly with another. We are advocating a system in which every oil-producing state has a fair opportunity to participate, every contractor is held accountable, and every host community has a legitimate voice in decisions affecting the security of its environment and resources,” he added.
His proposal raises broader questions about how the Federal Government can balance national coordination, local participation, commercial interests and security requirements in the management of pipeline surveillance contracts.
REPS DISMISS PETITION AGAINST PINL, RECOMMEND CONTRACT EXTENSION
The controversy follows the adoption of a subcommittee report by the House Committee on Host Communities at a special sitting on Tuesday.
The petition, dated September 5, was submitted by the Niger Delta Oil-Producing Communities Reform Movement (ND-OCRIM).
The petitioners reportedly raised allegations involving contract implementation, financial management, the welfare of surveillance personnel and alleged personal expenditure linked to PINL’s managing director. They also called for a forensic examination of the company’s finances.
According to the committee’s report, the petitioners failed to appear despite three invitations issued on September 14, September 22 and October 5. The report also stated that they neither sent representatives nor submitted documentary evidence to substantiate their allegations.
PINL, however, appeared before the subcommittee and submitted a written report titled The Impact of PINL Operations on Oil Production and Stability of the Niger Delta, alongside geotagged photographic evidence.
Based on the materials presented, the subcommittee concluded that the allegations had not been substantiated and recommended that the petition be dismissed.
The committee subsequently adopted the report and recommended extending PINL’s pipeline surveillance contract.
The dismissal of the petition on the grounds stated in the report does not, by itself, establish that every aspect of the company’s financial operations has undergone a comprehensive independent forensic audit.
PINL REPORTS IMPROVEMENTS IN CRUDE OIL DELIVERY
The subcommittee’s report highlighted operational improvements presented by PINL as evidence of the company’s contribution to pipeline security and crude oil recovery.
According to the figures contained in the report, crude oil delivery through the Trans Niger Pipeline to the Bonny Terminal reportedly increased from three per cent in May 2022 to 98 per cent in September 2026.
The report also stated that Oil Mining Lease 11, which had remained shut for 18 months, resumed operations within 90 days of PINL’s engagement.
Other achievements cited included the remediation of 2,049 illegal pipeline connections and the destruction of 1,010 illegal refinery clusters.
PINL reportedly operates across 215 host communities and has deployed more than 35,600 surveillance guards. Its operational assets were listed as including 28 forward bases, 130 boats, 175 vehicles, 25 drones and 454 government security personnel.
The committee also highlighted the company’s reported provision of more than 5,000 scholarships, skills training for over 4,000 women and girls, and flood relief to more than 10 communities in Rivers State.
These figures were presented through PINL’s submissions and the committee’s report. Independent verification would help establish the extent of the reported operational gains and their relationship to changes in national crude oil production.
₦2.7 TRILLION CONTROVERSY PUTS TRANSPARENCY UNDER SPOTLIGHT
The debate over decentralisation comes amid wider public controversy surrounding the financial arrangements for pipeline surveillance contracts in the Niger Delta.
As previously reported by Tarakirivoice, Warri Reclamation Thrust convener Tsaye Mene called on NNPCL to publish details of pipeline surveillance contracts following the circulation of disputed financial figures and allegations concerning the arrangements.
Figures associated with the controversy have included claims involving ₦2.7 trillion, although the precise basis, scope and allocation of the amount require clarification through authoritative contract disclosures.
The public debate has also involved Niger Delta figure Asari Dokubo and competing arguments about the distribution of pipeline surveillance opportunities and the role of different operators.
Watchman’s intervention adds another dimension to the controversy by shifting attention from whether PINL’s contract should be extended to whether the overall surveillance architecture should be restructured to allow greater participation by qualified stakeholders across the region.
For residents of oil-producing communities, the issue extends beyond the identities of contractors. It also concerns transparency, employment, environmental protection, community development and the extent to which oil-producing areas benefit from activities conducted within their territories.
NIGERIA’S CRUDE OIL TARGET ADDS URGENCY TO THE DEBATE
Watchman argued that the Federal Government should evaluate pipeline surveillance arrangements against measurable improvements in crude oil production, the prevention of crude theft, the reduction of pipeline vandalism and the welfare of host communities.
He maintained that a decentralised model, supported by national standards and effective federal oversight, could help improve local intelligence and cooperation while strengthening accountability.
The proposal comes as Nigeria continues efforts to raise crude oil production towards the levels required to support government revenue and economic planning.
However, production levels depend on several factors, including field maintenance, investment, technical constraints, operational disruptions, security conditions and decisions by oil-producing companies. Decentralisation alone would not guarantee higher output.
Watchman said the Federal Government should nevertheless be willing to examine the existing system rather than treat calls for reform as attacks on incumbent contractors.
“The question is simple: after all the years of operating the current arrangement, can we honestly say that Nigeria has fully maximised its crude oil production potential?” he asked.
“If our production continues to face challenges, then the government must be willing to examine the system and make necessary adjustments instead of treating every call for reform as an attack on existing contractors.”
He said the objective should be to create a surveillance framework that could contribute to sustainable crude oil production exceeding two million barrels per day, subject to operational conditions and the wider capacity of the oil industry.
CALL FOR TRANSPARENT SELECTION, INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT
Watchman urged President Tinubu and the Presidency to look beyond the House subcommittee’s recommendation and consider a comprehensive review of pipeline surveillance arrangements across the Niger Delta.
He proposed transparent selection criteria for qualified indigenous stakeholders, clearly defined operational responsibilities, effective oversight mechanisms and measurable performance targets.
He also called for stronger safeguards to ensure that participation is based on demonstrated competence rather than political patronage.
According to him, decentralisation should provide every oil-producing state with a meaningful opportunity to contribute to protecting infrastructure within its territory while preserving the Federal Government’s responsibility for national security and coordination.
“The President must do the right thing by decentralising pipeline surveillance across the Niger Delta. The region cannot continue to operate under arrangements that leave significant stakeholders feeling excluded while the country struggles to maximise the benefits of its natural resources,” he stated.
“The Niger Delta is not asking for special treatment. We are asking for fairness, inclusion and a system that recognises the capacity of our people to contribute to the security and development of their own region.”
THE QUESTIONS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST ANSWER
Watchman’s demand presents the Presidency and relevant oil-sector institutions with several questions that go beyond the immediate dispute over PINL’s contract extension.
Should pipeline surveillance contracts remain concentrated among existing operators, or should the Federal Government create opportunities for additional qualified contractors across oil-producing states?
What transparent criteria should determine eligibility, and how should the government prevent political patronage, conflicts of interest and the emergence of new monopolies?
How independently can the reported improvements in crude oil delivery, pipeline security and community development be verified?
What mechanisms are available to ensure that surveillance personnel receive fair treatment and that host communities benefit from the protection of oil and gas infrastructure?
And how can greater local participation be introduced without weakening national coordination, compromising security or creating overlapping responsibilities?
For now, the House committee has recommended extending PINL’s contract after dismissing the petition before it as unsubstantiated. Watchman, however, insists that the decision should not end the debate over the structure of pipeline surveillance in the Niger Delta.
His position is that the Federal Government should pursue a broader reform that preserves effective existing operations while opening transparent opportunities for other qualified stakeholders.
Whether the Presidency will consider such a restructuring remains to be seen. What is clear is that the dispute has reopened a fundamental debate about who participates in protecting the Niger Delta’s oil wealth, how those responsibilities are distributed and what accountability mechanisms should govern the contracts.
Tarakirivoice will continue to follow developments surrounding pipeline surveillance contracts, crude oil production, host-community interests and calls for greater transparency in the Niger Delta.
