Niger Delta youths demand termination of pipeline surveillance contract 

Niger Delta youths, under the aegis of Niger Delta Centre for Justice and Accountability, NDCJA, have called for immediate termination of the pipeline surveillance contract.

The contract, aimed at checking oil theft, is being handled by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, TSSNL.

The youths also distanced themselves from recent comments by former Ijaw Youths Council, IYC, Worldwide President Udengs Eradiri, who defended the pipeline surveillance contract being handled by TSSNL.

NDCJA, in a statement released by Executive Director, Comrade Efe Justice, on Tuesday, described Eradiri’s position as self-serving propaganda designed to protect personal and vested interests.

The youths insisted that Eradiri does not speak for the Niger Delta people, noting that his views represent a narrow, self-interested perspective that overlooks the widespread suffering, economic sabotage and ongoing plunder of national resources that continue to afflict communities across the region.

“We have no affiliation whatsoever with Udengs Eradiri or the views he expressed in his recent interview. We distance ourselves completely from his assertions and reject the notion that critics of the Tantita contract are ‘enemies of Nigeria.’

“Such inflammatory language is a tired tactic used by those who benefit from the status quo to silence legitimate demands for accountability,” the Niger Delta youths said in the statement.

They chided Eradiri for allegedly acting as an apologist for what they described as a failed arrangement that continues to bleed the nation dry.

“Eradiri’s praise for Tantita ignores hard realities. Oil theft remains rampant, costing Nigeria up to $15 billion annually—hundreds of thousands of barrels per day disappearing into criminal networks.

“Recent discoveries of major illegal bunkering hubs, including in Abia State in early 2026, prove that the current model has not neutralised the threat.

“Criminals adapt, shift operations, and exploit gaps while the contract drains ₦48 billion of public money every year. If this is what Eradiri calls ‘success’ and ‘peace,’ then we are dealing with a dangerous delusion,” the statement added.

The youths observed that the pipeline surveillance contract has not eradicated oil theft but merely shifted its patterns. According to them, production gains are as a result of broader efforts, rather than the efforts of any singular entity.

They equally claimed that so-called thousands of jobs generated from the pipeline surveillance contract “often remain unevenly distributed, temporary, or tied to patronage networks, leaving widespread youth unemployment and community grievances unaddressed”.

To achieve lasting security and equitable benefits for the Niger Delta, NDCJA called for the complete decentralization of pipeline surveillance contracts.

The youths said decentralization would involve awarding separate, competitive contracts to different reputable companies in each oil-producing state, based on transparent bidding processes, verifiable track records in security and community engagement, and strict performance metrics.

They argued that such an approach would foster greater local inclusion, reduce the risks of favoritism or monopolistic control, and encourage innovation in surveillance techniques across diverse terrains and communities.

“Decentralization is not fragmentation but smart, inclusive security. By engaging multiple competent firms per state—selected through open, merit-based processes—we can ensure broader stakeholder participation, better intelligence gathering from host communities, and stronger deterrence against theft and vandalism.

“This model aligns with true federalism, promotes fiscal responsibility, and prevents any single entity from holding disproportionate influence over national assets.

“President Tinubu and well meaning Nigerians should ask Eradiri if there are no competent people in Bayelsa, where he is from, to handle pipeline surveillance contract for the state.

The Niger Delta youths urged President Tinubu conduct independent audit of existing contracts before any renewal or extension.

Niger Delta youths demand termination of pipeline surveillance contract