Niger Delta ex-war lords including His Royal Majesty, Dr Ateke Michael Tom, the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom and the Sekuro of Niger Delta, Asari Dokubo, Ajube Bibopori, (Gen. Shootaside) and Victor Ben Ebikabowei, (Gen. Boyloaf) met in Rivers state to deliberate on resolution to oil theft in the country. The former militant leaders and key stakeholders from the six states of the Niger Delta region met on Saturday at the Palace of King Ateke, Okochiri Kingdom, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The gathering under the auspices of Oil Assets Surveillance Contractors Forum, OASCF, revealed its discovery of a major tapping on the Trans-Niger Pipeline, TNP, used by oil thieves in siphoning crude from the facility in Bonny Local Government Area, Rivers state.
The meeting discussed ways and strategies needed for overseeing the pipeline surveillance contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL.
The former warlord’s expresses commitment to boost collaborative endeavors aimed at intensifying efforts to combating illegal refining and safeguarding the pipelines and other critical infrastructure in the area.
This is coming as the Ijaw Youths Network commended President Bola Tinubu for renewing the pipeline protection contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Limited for another three years.
IYN Coordinator, Frank Ebikabo and Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, said the decision of the President who ignored a campaign of calumny orchestrated by a group of self serving individuals shows determination to strengthen the fight against oil thieves who have held down this country’s economy for years.
The group also commended the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Mr Mele Kyari, for the outstanding display of firmness and patriotism in the lingering issue of the fight against oil theft and economic sabotage in the country.