Group urges Tinubu to ignore media attacks on pipeline security contract

THE leadership of the Ijaw Youths Network ( IYN) has called on President Bola Tinubu to ignore sponsored media attacks on the productive pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Limited by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited ( NNPCL).

The IYN said that the recent coordinated publications about the pipeline security contract show, in clear terms, that the cabals of oil thieves, who are targeting the nation’s economy, are not relenting.

The group’s Coordinator, Frank Ebikabo, and its Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, in a statement, yesterday, said that those behind calumnious campaigns are not patriotic citizens who have the interest of the nation and its economy at heart, noting that they should be ignored.

The duo noted that the critics of the pipeline security contract were all silent when the nation’s daily crude oil production dropped to an alltime low of 900,000 barrels per day before Tantita’s engagement.

According to IYN, the hypocrites calling for the cancellation of the contract are not unaware of the tremendous improvement and gains made by the Federal Government from the contractual benefits of this well- thoughtout move against oil thieves. Ebikabo and Ebiaridor noted that all Nigerians of good conscience know the gains of the contract are not in any way comparable to the contract sum.

While there is still room for improvement, the group noted that the nation’s oil production has witnessed commendable improvement from 900,000 to 1.64 million barrels per day.

They further noted that the number of rogue vessels ar - rested in connection with oil theft through the collaborative efforts of Tantita and the nation’s military are testament to the fact that Tinubu has acted well in the nation’s interest.

The IYN commended the President for his leadership qualities and genuine concern for the economy. They stressed that the Tinubu deserves commendation for the rare political will to confront the scourge of oil theft with the renewal of Tantita’s contract despite the massive resources deployed by oil thieves and others who lost out in the bidding process against its renewal.