A Niger Delta environmental activist and community development expert, Comrade Alex Ekerebenah, has called for a review of the pipeline surveillance contract being executed by Tantita, describing the arrangement as unsustainable.

Ekerebenah made the remarks on Monday while responding to comments by another activist, Comrade Preye Tambou, who had warned against growing opposition to the renewal of Tantita’s contract.

He described Tambou’s warning as self-serving, arguing that it runs contrary to the broader interests of communities across the Niger Delta region.

According to Ekerebenah, no genuine advocate for the region would support the renewal of a contract that, in his view, has failed to deliver tangible benefits to the majority of Niger Delta residents.

He claimed that only a few individuals have benefited from the multi-million-dollar contract, while most people in the region continue to live in poverty. “We are no longer in an era where a handful of individuals control billions while millions struggle to survive,” he said.

Ekerebenah urged President Bola Tinubu to review what he described as flaws and ambiguities surrounding the award of the pipeline surveillance contract.

He criticised the process through which the contract was awarded, saying it did not adequately reflect the aspirations of oil-producing states and host communities.

The activist dismissed claims that opposition to the contract was driven by ethnic considerations, insisting that the call for change is based on fairness and regional development.

He advocated a decentralised approach that empowers each oil-producing state to manage pipeline surveillance within its territory, arguing that greater involvement of local communities would enhance security, promote inclusion, and ensure lasting peace in the Niger Delta.