Fubara said, “Security of pipelines should not be given to one man or one person. How can someone from Kalabari be controlling the pipeline in Ogoni? There is no way it will work.”
By Jeffrey Agbo
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has expressed displeasure at the Federal Government for giving ‘one man’ the responsibility of protecting crude oil pipelines in the country.
Nigeria’s top oil executive, Mele Kyari, had last year justified the government’s decision to award a multi-billion naira pipelines surveillance contract to Tantita Security Services led by former militant leader Government Ekpemepulo aka Tompolo.
Fubara noted his disagreement with the move on Saturday when a Federal Government delegation on the security of oil and gas assets led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, visited him at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
Though the Rivers governor did not mention any name, he said the strategy of the Federal Government won’t yield the expected results as an individual cannot have control over the assets in another’s territory.
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Fubara, who decried the neglect of the state by the Federal Government, called on the delegation to ensure that the outcome of their task would be beneficial to both the Federal and the state governments.
He advised them to engage the people at the grassroots to better appreciate the situation in the Niger Delta area.
Fubara said, “Security of pipelines should not be given to one man or one person. How can someone from Kalabari be controlling the pipeline in Ogoni? There is no way it will work.
“We must look at bringing all the key people in the various communities.
“Two of our sons from Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom are heading the ministry of petroleum. We don’t want them to fail. We must give them the necessary support.”
He advised the delegation to engage the right people so they can get the right information.
Fubara said that Rivers waged a strong war against illegal refining of crude oil under the leadership of the immediate past governor, Nyesom Wike, and that his administration won’t lower the bar.
He said he does not think that the Niger Delta is benefitting as much as it should compared to its contribution to the national economy.
On the delegation with the NSA were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa; and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja.
Others include Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; Minister of State (Oil), Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri; and Minister of State (Gas), Petroleum Resources, Ekperipe Ekpo.