Communities threaten sanctions over pipeline surveillance contract

The leadership of the Host Communities of Nigeria (HOSTCOM Producing Oil &Gas) wants the Presidential Adviser on Amnesty Programme, Brig. Gen.Paul Boroh, to hands-off pipeline surveillance contract or face the wrought of the people.

They also lambasted him for saying that ex-kidnappers would be engaged in pipeline surveillance.

Addressing the press after a peaceful protest in Warri, on behalf of HOSTCOM, High Chief Tamaranebi Benjamin said, “we expect nothing less than for the Federal Government to invite us to sign the agreement already reached with NNPC who are in charge.”

HOSTCOM said they are in discussion and collaborating with ex-agitators towards monitoring and securing the pipelines in the Niger Delta region, adding that giving the abductors of the students the pipeline surveillance contract will encourage other youths into crime.

He described Boro’s statement as an aberration and an affront to the host communities, adding that the host communities would resist attempt by the Federal Government to go contrary to agreements reached before now.

While saying that they have an amicable agreement on how best to handle the issue of pipeline surveillance in a way that the people of the region would benefit, he warned that engagement of abductors would send a very wrong signal to law abiding youths who may be tempted to see criminality as a way of cheap wealth and recognition.