Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has cautioned against the growing politicisation of pipeline surveillance contracts in the Niger Delta.
He warned that attempts to fragment the arrangement could undermine national security and reverse gains in oil revenue protection.
Mr. Agbese’s remarks come amid renewed agitation by some groups calling for the decentralisation of pipeline surveillance operations currently handled by private security firms, including Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.
The lawmaker said while concerns about inclusion and equity in the Niger Delta are understandable, pipeline protection remains a highly sensitive national assignment that cannot be subjected to indiscriminate participation or political pressure.
He stressed that the surveillance of critical oil infrastructure is not an all-comers affair, but a specialised responsibility requiring coordination, trust, and strict operational discipline.
He added that national security considerations must take precedence over sectional demands, noting that the protection of oil infrastructure is directly tied to Nigeria’s fiscal stability.
