President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the new management of Nigerian National Petroleum Company, (NNPC), has been asked to thoroughly investigate the activities of some contractors in charge of pipeline protection in Nigeria.

 

The group said a lot of corruption is going on in the sector that should be investigated by the Directorate of State Security, (DSS), the Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC).

 

In a statement on Monday, the Network of Niger-Delta Communities, (NNDECO) said some of the Pipeline protection contractors are not competent but rather use their platforms to rob the country while also exploiting the people of the Niger-Delta.

 

The group said the Niger-Delta today is smothering with illicit drugs and arms which continue to pose great risk to the survival of the people.

 

“We are calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to investigate widespread allegations that some of the pipeline contractors are involved in a chain of dirty deals that undermine the moral, economic and political stability of Nigeria.

 

“The time to act is now”, the group stated in a statement signed by NNDECO President, Emmanuel Ebiri and the group’s Secretary Onome Irene Isheikwene.

 

It alleged that Pipeline Infrastructure has been particularly linked with illicit drugs, mismanagement of funds, incompetence and gross misconduct bordering on poor remuneration for workers, abuse of drugs by its topmost official and massive corruption in the face of gross incompetence.

 

“It is a pity that since the death of the Chairman of Pipeline Infrastructure, Captain Idahosa, the company has lost its steam. The people of the Niger-Delta feel embarrassed by what is going on at the Pipeline Infrastructure”, the group said.

 

According to NNDECO, Pipeline Infrastructure needs to explain to Nigerians how it transformed from OMS.

 

“It has to explain the role of the company in the proliferation of illicit drugs in Nigeria.

 

The group said the Pipeline Infrastructure Chief Executive Officer, Mr Osahon Idahosa has failed to live up to the expectations of his father.

 

“When his father, the late Captain Idahosa was alive, he energised the people of the Niger Delta through honesty, dedication, hardwork, good treatment of workers and a string of philanthropic activities which made him the delight of the people.

 

“Today, the stories we here are about drug abuse, disrespect for elders, corruption and gross mismanagement associated with his legacy”, the group said.

 

NNDECO said the people of the Niger-Delta are worried about how the institution left behind by Idahosa is being mismanaged.

 

The coalition said the issue of how OMS became Pipeline Infrastructure is of concern to many people in the Niger-Delta amidst reports that they are owing Sky Bank over N80b and $30m while the same group is said to be owing its workers their allowances apart from being indebted to NIMASA.

 

The group said it was the debt that made the team to establish Pipeline Infrastructure saying it is the two companies they formed to work under OMS.

 

“All the directors of Ocean Maritime Solution are also the same Directors in Pipeline Infrastructure.

 

“Lies cannot run for 100 years, it will be caught by truth. Pipeline Infrastructure needs to account to the Government and People of Nigeria”, the group said.

 

It warned that if the company fails to change its ways, it could be dragged before the courts both in Nigeria and abroad.