GPMI cautions NNPCL against instigating crisis in Niger Delta

…says Itsekiris have a Supreme Court judgement in their favour over Trans-Forcado land

A group, Global Peace Movement International, UK has raised concern over the possibility of resumption of militancy in the Niger Delta region.

The group said the current situation that could trigger this is the renewal of the pipeline security contract by NNPCL.

Coordinator of the Movement, Mike Uyi who addressed journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, said if not properly managed, the situation could lead to a serious crisis in the region.

Uyi explained that the protection and maintenance of the crude oil and export pipeline currently been executed by

PINEL, a company that employed a large number of Itsekiri youths is allegedly being ceded to an Ijaw company.

According to him, 30km of the export pipeline runs through the Itsekiri land, while only 3km runs through the Ijaw area, adding that there’s no basis for re-awarding the contract.

He noted that the Itsekiris have a Supreme Court judgement in their favour over the Trans-Forcado land.

He said, “Facts on ground reveal that the three communities involved in the protection of the pipeline in Delta State are the Ijaws in the Ijaw community, Itsekiri in the Itsekiri community and the Urobo in the Urobo community.

“It is on record that these communities have been at peace within themselves without any form of problems. It should also be noted that Itsekiri has 30miles of the pipeline protection area, while the Ijaws have only 6miles all in the delineated area with thousands of youths, women, men and the aged. The question is on what basis will NNPCL want to create disharmony among these people?”

Uyi said as stakeholders in the Niger Delta, the GPMI will not allow any form of crisis to erupt again in the Niger Delta region.

He said what the country needs at this point is peace, adding that many Nigerians have lost their lives in the cause of the crisis in the Niger Delta including the military, paramilitary and civilians.

He said, “The Group CEO of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Mr. Mele Kyari should not instigate avoidable chaos for Nigeria and for President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration.

“We call on you, Mr. Mele Kyari to take urgent and immediate actions to douse the tension and allow the Ijaws to guard the Ijaw areas and the Itsekiri to guard the Itsekiri territory, ditto with other communities.”