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Niger Delta youths demand termination of pipeline surveillance contract
Niger Delta youths, under the aegis of Niger Delta Centre for Justice and Accountability, NDCJA, have called for immediate termination of the pipeline surveillance contract.
The contract, aimed at checking oil theft, is being handled by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, TSSNL.
The youths also distanced themselves from recent comments by former Ijaw Youths Council, IYC, Worldwide President Udengs Eradiri, who defended the pipeline surveillance contract being handled by TSSNL.
NDCJA, in a statement released by Executive Director, Comrade Efe Justice, on Tuesday, described Eradiri’s position as self-serving propaganda designed to protect personal and vested interests.
The youths insisted that Eradiri does not speak for the Niger Delta people, noting that his views represent a narrow, self-interested perspective that overlooks the widespread suffering, economic sabotage and ongoing plunder of national resources that continue to afflict communities across the region.
“We have no affiliation whatsoever with Udengs Eradiri or the views he expressed in his recent interview. We distance ourselves completely from his assertions and reject the notion that critics of the Tantita contract are ‘enemies of Nigeria.’
“Such inflammatory language is a tired tactic used by those who benefit from the status quo to silence legitimate demands for accountability,” the Niger Delta youths said in the statement.
They chided Eradiri for allegedly acting as an apologist for what they described as a failed arrangement that continues to bleed the nation dry.
“Eradiri’s praise for Tantita ignores hard realities. Oil theft remains rampant, costing Nigeria up to $15 billion annually—hundreds of thousands of barrels per day disappearing into criminal networks.
“Recent discoveries of major illegal bunkering hubs, including in Abia State in early 2026, prove that the current model has not neutralised the threat.
“Criminals adapt, shift operations, and exploit gaps while the contract drains ₦48 billion of public money every year. If this is what Eradiri calls ‘success’ and ‘peace,’ then we are dealing with a dangerous delusion,” the statement added.
The youths observed that the pipeline surveillance contract has not eradicated oil theft but merely shifted its patterns. According to them, production gains are as a result of broader efforts, rather than the efforts of any singular entity.
They equally claimed that so-called thousands of jobs generated from the pipeline surveillance contract “often remain unevenly distributed, temporary, or tied to patronage networks, leaving widespread youth unemployment and community grievances unaddressed”.
To achieve lasting security and equitable benefits for the Niger Delta, NDCJA called for the complete decentralization of pipeline surveillance contracts.
The youths said decentralization would involve awarding separate, competitive contracts to different reputable companies in each oil-producing state, based on transparent bidding processes, verifiable track records in security and community engagement, and strict performance metrics.
They argued that such an approach would foster greater local inclusion, reduce the risks of favoritism or monopolistic control, and encourage innovation in surveillance techniques across diverse terrains and communities.
“Decentralization is not fragmentation but smart, inclusive security. By engaging multiple competent firms per state—selected through open, merit-based processes—we can ensure broader stakeholder participation, better intelligence gathering from host communities, and stronger deterrence against theft and vandalism.
“This model aligns with true federalism, promotes fiscal responsibility, and prevents any single entity from holding disproportionate influence over national assets.
“President Tinubu and well meaning Nigerians should ask Eradiri if there are no competent people in Bayelsa, where he is from, to handle pipeline surveillance contract for the state.
The Niger Delta youths urged President Tinubu conduct independent audit of existing contracts before any renewal or extension.
U.S. president Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to Iran over the security of the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post shared on his social media platform, Trump said the United States would respond forcefully if Iran takes any action that disrupts the flow of oil through the vital shipping route.
According to him, any attempt to stop oil movement in the Strait of Hormuz would result in Iran being hit “twenty times harder” than it has been previously.
Trump also warned that the U.S. could target key sites that would make it difficult for Iran to rebuild as a nation.
“Death, fire and fury will reign upon them,” he wrote, while adding that he hopes such a situation does not happen.
He also described the warning as a move meant to protect countries that rely heavily on the waterway for oil shipments, including China and other nations that depend on energy supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
A Nigerian lawyer, identified as Atanda, has sparked discussions online after sharing guidance on what to do if someone attempts to use the police to collect a debt.
Taking to his Facebook page, Atanda clarified that owing someone money does not give them the legal right to involve the police in collecting the debt.
He explained that debt is a civil matter, not a criminal offense, and that the police are prohibited from acting as debt collectors.
The lawyer advised that if a police officer attempts to make such an arrest, the individual should calmly inform the officer that the matter is civil and request to see their identification.
If the officer insists on proceeding, he stressed the importance of complying without resistance and following lawful instructions.
Atanda also noted that signing any repayment undertaking requested by the officer does not make it enforceable in court, so there is no cause for fear.
After release, victims are encouraged to pursue legal action against both the creditor and the police officer for breach of fundamental human rights and unlawful detention, with potential claims for damages of up to 50 million Naira.
He wrote:
“You are owing someone money and the person brought Police to arr£st you, this is what you should do.
At first, the police have no legal authority to arr£st you for a simple debt, as it is a civil matter and not a criminal offense. According to the Police Act 2020 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), the police are strictly prohibited from interfering in civil disputes or acting as d£bt collectors
Meaning that, the Police officer the person brought to arr£st you, is on ill£gal duty and is on a mission to perform ill£gal arr£st.
So at this point.
- Ask the Police officer for his ID and take note of his name
- Calmly tell the officer it’s a civil matter
- If the officer insist on arr£sting you, don’t resist the arr£st. Follow him
- If they ask you to sign any undertaking of when you will pay back, sign it
That undertaking is not enf0rceable anywhere, so no f£ar at all
Once you are out
File a suit against the person you owe and the Police Officer for breach of your fundamental human right and ill£gal arr£st with unlawful detention
In the suit, demand for damages of 50 Million Naira
Ignorance of the law is no excuse”
See below;
The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation has explained why staff of the Federal Ministry of Steel Development and four other federal agencies have not received their February 2026 salaries.
The delay is due to gaps in the budget allocated for personnel costs in these organizations.
A statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Accountant-General’s office, Bawa Mokwa, confirmed that the affected agencies include the Federal Ministry of Steel Development, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, the National Rural Electrification Agency, Kamuku National Park, and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria.
The shortfall in allocated funds caused the hold-up in salary payments.
The office said the affected organisations have been asked to work with the Cash Management Office of the Federal Ministry of Finance to address the funding gaps.
Salaries for other federal workers outside these agencies have already been paid, the statement added.
The statement also addressed civil servants with salary accounts at Standard Chartered Bank, explaining that some could not access their funds because the bank requires a minimum account balance of seven million naira.
Despite the policy, the salaries were fully transferred to the bank.
The Accountant-General’s office assured workers that steps are being taken to resolve the delays and ensure payments are made promptly.
The 2026 federal budget sets aside about N8.36 trillion for personnel costs, with additional provisions for pensions and gratuities, reflecting the government’s planned spending on staff-related costs.
President Trump threatens Iran over Strait of Hormuz, warns of “death, fire and fury”
“Police Have No Right To Arrest You Over Debt” – Lawyer
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