Leaders of communities in OML 30, 40 and 42 in Delta State are appealing to the Federal Government to allow Pipeline Infrastructure to continue to secure pipelines in their areas which has eliminated vandalism, illegal bunkering while addressing unemployment and increasing crude oil production.
The leaders who spoke during a press conference in Warri, Delta State advised the Federal Government against disengaging the pipeline surveillance contract.
The recommendations towards ending this vandalism of crude oil pipeline in the Niger Delta are promoting community participation and policing which are what the pipeline surveillance initiative represents with the engagement of youths to protect the national assets running in their communities.
For these leaders of several host communities in Delta state, they want retention of surveillance contract of the company.
At the peak of pipeline vandalism in 2017, the Federal government initiated the Surveillance and protection programme which has helped in curbing this menace.
This is the reason stakeholders want the move to be sustained.
These crude oil pipelines run through several communities in the Niger Delta region and the surveillance contract has helped young people in these areas to take ownership of these national assets.