FIC Report (Imo State) – Traditional rulers and stakeholders from Imo State, particularly in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, have expressed support for the pipeline surveillance operations led by Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), citing improvements in security and a reduction in illegal oil bunkering activities.
The National Secretary of the Phase One Presidential Amnesty Programme, Mr. Andrew Vocor, disclosed that the initiative has significantly curtailed pipeline vandalism and related fatalities in the area, noting that incidents of illegal bunkering have drastically reduced since the deployment of the surveillance team.
While commending the progress recorded, a Coalition of Concerned Youth Bodies in the Niger Delta, led by Mr. Charles Malford, called for the decentralisation of pipeline surveillance contracts to allow for broader participation of local stakeholders.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt, the group urged the Federal Government to adopt a more inclusive approach to pipeline security, stressing that decentralisation would promote accountability, strengthen grassroots participation, and create employment opportunities for youths in the region.
The coalition maintained that involving local communities directly in the protection of oil infrastructure would enhance efficiency and foster a sense of ownership, thereby reducing incidences of vandalism and other related crimes.
They further appealed to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to review and clearly define the structure of existing surveillance contracts to ensure transparency and operational effectiveness.
Stakeholders however emphasised that an inclusive and well-coordinated surveillance framework remains critical to sustaining peace, protecting national assets, and driving development across the Niger Delta region.
Chika Anurunwa
PIPRO
07/04/2026
