Pipeline Surveillance Contract: MOSIEND Urges Buhari To Disregard Petitions Against Beneficiaries

The Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationalities in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to disregard all petitions against the recent oil and gas contract awarded a son of Niger Delta, Government Ekpemupolo.
The president of the group, Kennedy Tonjo West in a statement on Wednesday, said the contract has already created employment for thousands of youths within the month in Delta communities.
The statement read” Following the recent award of contracts for security and surveillance of petroleum pipelines across the Niger Delta region by the government to some indigenous contractors, some non state actors across different ethnic nationalities within and outside the Niger Delta region had been hitting hard, expressing disaffection, threatening and issuing one ultimatum after another.
“Some even went as far as transmitting letters to Mr President denigrating the hard earned reputation of our illustrious sons who had done them no wrong.
“As a group, we are calling for caution because the federal government in its wisdom deemed it right to involve community participation in addition to the military’s dedicated efforts in the fight against illegal bunkering and oil theft in the region.
“The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited now a private business outfit, has said in response to some uninformed agitations, that the contract was awarded with strict adherence to the procurement act and that the companies were qualified and we think that they deserve commendation for getting it right”.
“This singular policy by the government is already generating employment for thousands of previously jobless youths within the communities who are now trained and engaged by the companies in line with their contractual obligations.
Appealing for support from the region, MOSIEND stated, “As co-travellers, who share the same polluted environment and have suffered losses from oil-related activities, we should learn to put our common interest above all and show our adversaries that we love ourselves.
“If we cannot understand ourselves on this ‘small opening’, how can we sustain our cries for better deals from the government and oil companies?
“Finally, we advise that individuals, ethnic nationalities and tribes who are not directly part of the contract should never give up on our working together. Let us be proactive and consciously allow for a win-win approach to enable us to grow and progress together”.
It asked the president to jettison all complaints.
“We are asking Mr President to disregard such petition as the fact stated therein is unfounded, lack substance and are ill orchestrated”. The statement concluded.