A Niger Delta advocacy group has alleged that the recent oil pipeline explosion in Delta State was the result of deliberate sabotage linked to unresolved disputes over pipeline surveillance contracts, calling on the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to urgently address the situation.
The Niger Delta Monitoring Group said the explosion, which occurred near the Tebijor, Okpele and Ikpopo communities in the Gbaramatu Kingdom, may be connected to rising tension among oil pipeline surveillance contractors operating across the region.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its spokesperson, Commander Oritse Tuoyo, the group said the incident has triggered widespread concern and raised troubling questions about the motives behind repeated attacks on critical oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta.
According to the group, preliminary findings suggest that the explosion could be linked to attempts by some surveillance contractors to pressure the NNPCL and the Federal Government into reviewing or renewing their contracts.
The statement claimed that intelligence available to the group indicates that certain high-ranking security personnel within the oil company may be aware of the circumstances surrounding the incident, a development the group said raises serious concerns about possible collusion.
“If those who benefit enormously from pipeline surveillance contracts are alleged to sabotage oil pipelines to attract government attention for contract renewal, what signal does this send to host communities that gain nothing from such arrangements?” the group queried.
The Niger Delta Monitoring Group called on the Federal Government to intervene immediately, alleging that a segment of the system appears to be working in concert with some contractors, with grave consequences for national revenue and economic stability.
The group warned that unless all stakeholders, including communities and groups currently excluded from surveillance contracts, are carried along in future negotiations, incidents of sabotage may persist.
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It urged the government to swiftly review the surveillance framework in the Niger Delta, stressing that failure to resolve the underlying grievances could lead to more explosions, environmental damage and heightened insecurity in the oil-producing region.
“Government knows what to do,” Commander Tuoyo said, expressing hope that a fair and inclusive solution would be adopted in the interest of peace and sustainable development.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited had on Wednesday confirmed that an explosion occurred on one of its pipelines in the Gbaramatu Kingdom area of Delta State.
In a statement, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Limited, Andy Odeh, said initial assessments showed a pressure drop consistent with a loss of containment on a pipeline operated by the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company.
“Our priority at this time is the safety of nearby communities and the protection of the environment,” Odeh said, adding that emergency response procedures had been activated and that the company was working with relevant authorities and community leaders to contain the impact.
He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to safety and environmental protection, assuring that further updates would be released as investigations progress.
