The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta on Thursday expressed serious concerns over the continued delay in the renewal of pipeline surveillance contracts, warning that the development poses significant economic, security and social risks to the Niger Delta and the country at large.
In a statement issued by its National President, Kennedy Tonjo West, the group cautioned that any vacuum in the surveillance framework could trigger a resurgence of crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and heightened insecurity across the region.
“Experience has shown that fragmented or exclusionary approaches to pipeline surveillance often result in heightened insecurity, increased oil theft and widespread community disaffections,” the statement read.
MOSIEND noted that moves towards decentralisation, if not properly structured and inclusively implemented, could create a disjointed and inefficient system vulnerable to abuse and poor coordination.
The group highlighted the contributions of indigenous firms such as Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited and Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, stating that their operations had significantly reduced crude oil theft and environmental degradation in the region.
According to the organisation, the firms’ interventions have not only stabilised oil production and safeguarded government revenue but also enhanced safety on waterways and supported sustainable livelihoods for host communities.
However, MOSIEND warned that delays in renewing the contracts, coupled with what it described as subtle pressures for decentralisation and bureaucratic bottlenecks within the National Assembly of Nigeria and other government agencies, threaten to reverse the gains recorded.
The group also drew attention to worsening socio-economic conditions in the Niger Delta, including rising fuel costs, inflation and widespread hardship.
It noted that engagement in pipeline surveillance had provided a legitimate source of income for many youths in host communities, serving as a deterrent against involvement in criminal activities.
“A prolonged delay in contract renewal risks pushing many youths back into crude oil theft, with grave consequences for national revenue and regional stability,” the statement added.
While acknowledging the role of the military in securing critical infrastructure, MOSIEND emphasised that security efforts would be more effective through collaboration with community-based surveillance structures.
It stressed that the synergy between formal security agencies and local operators remains vital in sustaining peace and operational efficiency in the Niger Delta.
The group, therefore, called on the Federal Government to urgently renew the pipeline surveillance contracts, insisting that such decisions must be guided by proven capacity, measurable performance and national interest rather than political considerations.
MOSIEND further urged advocates of decentralisation to learn from past failures and prioritise collective progress over individual ambitions.
It added that the Federal Government has a clear opportunity to strengthen stability, protect national assets and reaffirm its commitment to the people of the Niger Delta, warning that continued delay could lead to avoidable losses, renewed criminality and deeper social instability.
