President-General, Coalition of Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities, Dr Alaye Tari Theophilus, says decentralisation of the pipeline surveillance contract will act as a deterrent to crude oil theft.
Theophilus made this statement on Wednesday on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’.
“You can’t ask people to stop artisanal refining when surveillance is monopolised. Illegal vessels load products from platforms because surveillance is monopolised with no checks.
“The companies that have been engaged by the NNPC is what we are talking about, the pipeline infrastructure. The Tantita and the Marton are the three major companies that have been engaged.
“Every other company in question is a subcontractor to maybe pipeline infrastructure, because the Marton and the Tantita, they didn’t even submit their contracts.
“But what we are saying is this pipeline surveillance contract is as a result of the agitation of the people of the Niger Delta, and you cannot say that people should stop boat fire business while you are now being monopolized with the sovereign job.
“So, decentralisation of pipeline surveillance contract will act as a deterrent to crude oil theft,” Theophilus said.
Niger Delta coalition demands decentralization of pipeline surveillance contract