Coalition Demands Full Disclosure of Niger Delta Pipeline Contracts to End Speculation
Lagos, Nigeria—October 9, 2026—A coalition of civil society organizations has called on the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to publicly release detailed information on pipeline surveillance contracts in the Niger Delta, insisting that transparency is the only way to end damaging speculation and protect national security operations.
The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Good Governance (CCSOGG), speaking through its spokesperson Declan Ihekaire at a press conference in Lagos, specifically addressed allegations surrounding Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) and its Project Director, Osahon Okunbo.
The group said unverified claims linking the company and its leadership to a purported ₦2.7 trillion annual pipeline surveillance arrangement lack publicly available documentary evidence and risk undermining critical oil-protection efforts.
Call for Facts Over Speculation
“We consider it necessary to speak at this time, not because legitimate questions about public contracts should be suppressed, but because public accountability must be based on facts, documents, and verifiable evidence,” the coalition stated. It urged the authorities to publish contract values, payment schedules, scopes of work, and performance records so that Nigerians can properly interrogate the arrangements.
According to the group, available information suggests the widely circulated ₦2.7 trillion figure should not be confused with the actual value of PINL’s contract, which it put at about ₦150 billion.
The coalition stressed that contract sums typically cover personnel, equipment, logistics, security operations, technology, community engagement, and other operational costs—and should not be equated with personal income.
PINL’s Role and Performance Claims
PINL is responsible for surveillance operations along the Eastern Corridor of the Trans Niger Pipeline, covering parts of Rivers, Bayelsa, Abia and Imo states.
The coalition cited figures attributed to the company showing a reduction in pipeline infractions and vandalism attempts compared with previous years, including claims of no vandalism on certain sections during a reviewed period. It added that the operations reportedly engage thousands of youths across about 215 communities.
However, the group insisted these claims must be independently verified by relevant government authorities rather than accepted at face value.
Any decision on the contracts, it argued, should rest on measurable results: reductions in vandalism, protection of crude oil production, community relations, technology deployment and value for money.
Broader Context of Controversy
The call comes amid heightened public debate over pipeline security contracts in the oil-rich region. Similar arrangements involving other contractors have drawn scrutiny in recent months, with some civil society voices and lawmakers demanding forensic audits and greater oversight.
The coalition warned that unverified allegations circulating on social media and in public discourse could heighten ethnic tensions and distract from the urgent task of securing Nigeria’s strategic oil infrastructure.
While acknowledging the right of citizens to question public expenditure, CCSOGG urged anyone with concrete evidence of wrongdoing to submit it to the appropriate anti-corruption agencies.
It called on the Federal Government and NNPC Limited to take proactive steps to promote transparency and reduce the space for misinformation.
As Nigeria continues to battle crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism that cost the nation billions, the demand for open books on these multi-billion-naira contracts underscores a growing consensus: sustainable security of critical assets requires both operational effectiveness and public trust built on clear, verifiable information.
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