The Peoples Wellbeing Association (PWA) has announced plans to institute legal proceedings at a High Court in Abuja to challenge the proposed renewal of a pipeline surveillance contract.
The group is advocating for the decentralisation of the contract, urging authorities to allocate responsibilities among multiple stakeholders to improve efficiency, transparency, and inclusiveness across the Niger Delta region.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Head of PWA’s Legal Unit, Aliyu Sadiq, said the planned lawsuit is a last resort aimed at preventing escalating tensions in the oil-rich region.
He warned that attempts to concentrate the surveillance contract in the hands of a single entity could undermine stability and contradict the inclusive principles underpinning the Niger Delta amnesty programme.
According to Sadiq, excluding key stakeholders has heightened concerns about fairness and capacity, stressing that no individual or group should control such a critical national responsibility.
He argued that involving stakeholders from various states would strengthen the protection of oil infrastructure, as local actors are better positioned to monitor and secure assets within their jurisdictions.
The proposed legal action, he noted, will seek an injunction to halt any renewal of the contract until a more inclusive framework is adopted.
While expressing support for the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Sadiq commended ongoing reforms within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, describing them as critical to repositioning Nigeria’s energy sector.
He also praised the leadership of the company’s Group Managing Director, Bayo Ojulari, noting that current reforms are driving national economic transformation.
Sadiq concluded by calling for policy continuity, emphasising the need to sustain ongoing reforms for long-term stability and development.
