Niger Delta leader calls for broader stakeholder involvement, says single-operator model threatens accountability and regional stability

Prominent Niger Delta leader and businessman, High Chief Ayiri Emami, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to decentralise the Federal Government’s pipeline surveillance contract, cautioning that entrusting such a critical national asset to a single operator poses serious security and governance risks.

Speaking during a press briefing on ward delineation at his palace in Warri, Emami criticised the current structure of the surveillance arrangement, describing it as overly centralised and potentially counterproductive. He urged the Federal Government to adopt a more inclusive framework that accommodates credible stakeholders and host communities across the Niger Delta.

Emami proposed that the surveillance contract be distributed among states in the region and managed by trusted, state-based actors in collaboration with local communities. According to him, decentralisation would not only enhance operational efficiency but also improve accountability and foster a stronger sense of ownership among those directly impacted by oil and gas activities.

He warned that concentrating such responsibility in the hands of a single individual could create a dangerous power imbalance, with the potential to sideline other stakeholders and heighten tensions within the region.

His position aligns with growing calls from influential Niger Delta figures advocating a restructuring of the surveillance framework. Leaders such as King Michael Ateke Tom, High Chief Victor Ben Ebikabowei (Boyloaf), and High Chief Bibopere Ajube (Shoot-at-Sight) have also backed decentralisation, stressing the need for inclusiveness and community participation.

Proponents argue that a decentralised model would strengthen grassroots monitoring, reduce crude oil theft, and promote transparency in the management of pipeline security. They also believe it could help ease long-standing grievances in oil-producing communities by ensuring fair representation and benefit-sharing.

Emami’s remarks come amid ongoing national conversations on tackling pipeline vandalism and oil theft in the Niger Delta. He urged the Federal Government to reassess the current framework and prioritise a system that guarantees peace, stability, and long-term national security.