Igbo Youths Agitate for Inclusion in Pipeline Surveillance Contracts
A group of passionate and concerned youths from the Eastern region of Nigeria, convened under the Eastern Youths Coalition for Equity, has raised their voices in discontent over the recent pipeline surveillance contracts awarded by the Federal Government. The group, representing the interests of oil-producing states in the Eastern part of the country, particularly Abia, Anambra, and Imo states, voiced their concerns at a press conference held in Abuja.
The convener of the conference, Edwin Nkwede, emphasized the contentious nature of the awarded contracts, pointing out that they were granted to non-indigenous companies despite spanning the Eastern region. Nkwede underscored the significance of their protest, especially as the contracts are on the brink of renewal by the Federal Government.
The coalition emerged as a result of a stakeholder meeting comprising selected youth leaders from the Eastern region, held in Umuahia, Abia State. At this meeting, various issues affecting the welfare of the Igbo region were meticulously deliberated upon. Foremost among the grievances of the coalition is the manner in which the pipeline surveillance contracts were handled by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
It was revealed that the contracts were divided into the Eastern corridor, Central corridor, and Western corridor. Pipeline Infrastructure Limited and Tantita Security Services Limited, owned and managed by non-indigenous figures, secured the contracts for the Eastern and Central/Western corridors, respectively, a development that has sparked disapproval and distress among the Igbo youths.
Nkwede underscored the feeling of marginalization experienced by the Igbo community due to the observed neglect of the Eastern region in crucial matters. He also highlighted the unsavory security situation prevalent in the Eastern states, emphasizing the urgent need for a redress.
Displaying an unwavering commitment to pursuing their cause through legal means, the Eastern youth’s coalition for equity aims to ensure that the voices of the region’s youth are not only heard but also considered in the allocation of these contracts. Asserting their request for the Federal Government to intervene and urge the contractors to incorporate the youth from the coalition, Nkwede emphasized the critical role that these young individuals could play in effectively monitoring crude oil facilities in the region.
Additionally, the convener called upon the Federal Government to influence the relevant authorities responsible for awarding the subcontract to reconsider the existing arrangements and favor a company selected by the coalition. It is the fervent hope of the Eastern Youths Coalition for Equity that their earnest pleas will receive due recognition and action from the Federal Government in acknowledgment of the significance of the Igbo land in the broader landscape of the nation.
The agitation by these Igbo youths reflects not only their desire for inclusivity and fair treatment but also the broader societal need for equitable distribution of opportunities and resources across Nigeria.
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