…Urges Ijaws to defend pipelines while waiting for FG to increase PIA by 3%
The Ijaw ethnic nationality has asked for a 100% resource ownership and control of oil resources, instead of the handouts or palliatives in the form of pipeline surveillance contracts aimed at pacifying people of the region.
Benjamin Okaba, President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), made the demand on the sidelines of the Community Engagement Programme in Yenagoa, organised on 10 May 2025, by the Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL).
Okaba commended the efforts of the Ijaw people aimed at securing the pipelines and other national assets. He however described the pipeline surveillance contracts given by the Federal Government to companies from the region as palliative to pacify the Niger Delta.
“Before we talk about supporting Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited to meet the Federal Government’s output target, the Ijaw people demand 100% resource ownership and control; to align with the principles of derivation, align with the principles of federalism, and make a commitment of maybe 20-15% to the Federal Government.”
Okaba pointed out that despite issues that led to production cuts three years ago, the Ijaw people have always believed in the unity of the nation and have always made sacrifices to sustain it. “So, for us, the management of the pipeline is another sacrifice. And we’ve done very well.
“There are some leaders in this country who say that the Ijaws were involved in bunkering, in so many activities and all that. But we have shown capacity from Tompolo Oweizidei Thomas Ekpemupolo, from Asari Dokubo, from all of that, and this very company (PINL).
“We’ve shown that we have the capacity to intervene and make Nigeria return to achieving the OPEC quota for the benefit of the country,” he said.
The INC, however, urged the Federal Government to devise a way of compensating the Ijaws and others in the region, while rejecting the 3% provided for host communities in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
“The PIA is not enough. We have seen it for the provisions as insulting. The 3% to those communities is just not enough. It’s an insult.
“So, this requires synergy, proper understanding. It’s not just about exploitation and maximisation of profit. The Federal Government wants to get this and this. But what about the communities?
“They should also look into it. That is the best way of making the communities to calm down and buy into the protection of the pipelines. If they protect the pipelines, and they are still operating, and there is serious poverty in those areas, how do you manage the situation?”
Okaba stressed that pipeline vandalism is not part of the agenda of the Ijaws, adding that they know the adverse impact, not only to the country, but to our communities. Oil spill and all that also affect the environment, he said.
“Beyond that, we also want to call on the government to come up with measures, sustainable palliative measures, that will come up as some form of alternative sources. If a man is well fed, he has a livelihood, a proper, sustainable livelihood, he has no business going to destroy any pipeline.
“But when you push a man to the wall with poverty and penury, he’s left with no alternative than to do things that are not palatable. So, we should create opportunities that will make people to discourage persons from doing all what we consider necessary,” he said.
On pipeline surveillance, Okaba commended PINL on its efforts to secure the pipelines and for engaging with the communities to get feedback on their activities.
He however urged Ijaw communities to own the pipeline surveillance and support the company in its efforts to secure the national assets.
“Our communities, our villages, men, women, adults, community leaders, and traditional rulers should support the infrastructure. These things are managed by our people. And if there is success, the credit comes to us first and foremost.
“In the same way, we also want to advise the company that if there are terms of agreement, they should religiously abide by those terms of agreement,” he said.
