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Focus On Issues Affecting Us, Not Pipeline Contracts, IPF Urges N’Delta Stakeholders

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The Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF) has urged leaders in the Niger Delta region to focus on pressing issues affecting the region, rather than squabbling over pipeline contracts.

The intellectual body of the Ijaw struggle argued that the focus on Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited contract is a distraction from core demands like environmental justice, resource control, and self-determination.

In a press conference on Thursday in Warri, Delta State, IPF President, Comrade Austin Ozobo, flanked by other executives and members of the group, further argued that pipeline surveillance is not exclusive to Tantita, adding that other firms are engaged in the contract as well hence it’s needless calling for the decentralisation of the contract.

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The IPF, while expressing concern over disagreements among ex-agitators and stakeholders over pipeline surveillance contracts, emphasised that Tompolo is not the problem, and the gains from Tantita’s participation in pipeline surveillance are visible, including job creation and improved security.

The group, while spotlighting the Niger Delta’s rich resources and the poverty faced by its people, called on the Federal Government and oil companies to address environmental damage and invest in the region’s development.

The IPF, while appealing to stakeholders to settle differences privately, rather than publicly,
urged stakeholders to prioritize the region rather than personal interests.

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The IPF further said: “The attention of the Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF) has been drawn to the recent distractions, holocaust and misdirection of focus in the struggle for self-determination and justice for the oppressed people of the Niger Delta.

“As an intellectual arm of the Ijaw struggle, we are worried that key players in the struggle are at loggerheads over a mere pipeline contract. We have experienced it several times where people who do not even have a drop of oil in their states and communities handled such contracts in the Niger Delta without controversy, without blackmail, and without calls for decentralisation or threats.

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“As key stakeholders and leaders, we urge all concerned to look beyond oil pipeline surveillance contracts and focus on pressuring the Federal Government to address the real issues affecting the region. Despite being the hub of Nigeria’s oil production, the Niger Delta remains underdeveloped, with its resources exploited without commensurate benefit to the local population.

“It is disheartening that key actors in the Niger Delta have abandoned the core demands of environmental justice, resource control, self-determination, and the implementation of the National Conference report convened under President Goodluck Jonathan administration. The current focus on the Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited contract is misplaced and distraction from these fundamental concerns.

Tantita is not the problem, and neither is Tompolo. The gains from Tantita’s participation in pipeline surveillance are enormous and visible, including job creation, a significant increase in daily oil production, improved security, and visible commitment to service. We appeal to aggrieved stakeholders that this contract should not be treated as a central issue.

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“However, our attention should instead be directed towards critical demands such as the relocation of International Oil Companies’ operational headquarters to the Niger Delta, allocation of oil wells to indigenes, creation of additional states, and the rebuilding of communities affected by conflict, among others.

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“It is also important to note that pipeline surveillance is not exclusive to Tantita. Other private security firms are engaged under the current arrangement, and the work is already shared across various stakeholders and regions. This reflects an existing level of decentralisation. Sadly, we don’t talk about others handling the surveillance contract but Tompolo becomes our focus of attacks at all times, we wish to state that this is not good for our collective unity, struggle and development.

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It is our candid advice that as leaders and stakeholders’ we should learn to settle our differences or misunderstanding in-house and not in the media space. It doesn’t tell good about us as a people, we cannot achieve our struggles if leaders and stakeholders continue to fight among themselves. Let us stop the pull him down syndromes among ourselves. This is an act that leaders would not condon if they found the younger ones involved in it. An injury to one is an injury to all. Let love lead among Ijaw and Niger Delta leaders and youths. Going forward let’s abide by this humble advice.

“The reality remains that the Niger Delta is rich in oil and gas resources, yet its people continue to face poverty, neglect, and environmental degradation. Oil exploration has caused severe damage to the ecosystem and undermined traditional livelihoods. It is time for the people of the Niger Delta to demand more from the Nigerian government.

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“It is not wrong while some stakeholders are taking charge of pipeline contracts, others handling oil blocs, oil pipeline laying contracts and oil drilling operation contracts in the Niger Delta region. We have extremely deviated and need redirection.

“We, therefore call on the Federal Government and International Oil Companies to take responsibility by addressing environmental damage, compensating affected communities, and investing meaningfully in the development of the region.

“We urge all stakeholders, including government officials, traditional rulers, and community representatives, to rise above internal disputes and focus on achieving lasting solutions for the Niger Delta because we can’t afford to fail our next generation.
The struggle for resource control, environmental justice, and self-determination continues. The people of the Niger Delta must not be distracted by secondary issues at a time when fundamental challenges remain unresolved.

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“We demand concrete and measurable action from the government and oil companies to ensure that the wealth of the Niger Delta benefits its people. The future of the region depends on it” they added.

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UNIMAID, Federal Polytechnic Matriculate 82 Degree Students

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University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) in affiliation with the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi has matriculated 82 students into the degree programmes across five courses.

Speaking during the matriculation ceremony at the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi on Tuesday, Professor Muhammad Laminu Mele, the Vice chancellor, University of Maiduguri, charged the matriculated students to strictly adhere to the rules and regulations guiding the two institutions to enable them achieve the set objectives.

The VC, who was represented by Professor Muhammad Ahmad Waziri, Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Services, warned that any student or group of students trying to breach the peace of the two institutions would face the full wrath of the law.

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READ ALSO:NEDC Hands Over Mega School To Bauchi Govt

The Don further assured that the University and its affiliated institutions would continue to make easy access to higher quality education to the teeming population across the country.

In a remark, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Alhaji Sani Usman, said they were affiliated with the university to pursue academic excellence, describing the affiliation as a huge pillar in the education reforms.

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READ ALSO:Bauchi Govt, UNICEF Strengthen Education Platforms To Improve Learning Outcomes

The Rector, who was also represented by Dr. Dalhatu Saidu, the Deputy Rector of the Polymeric, commended the university of Maiduguri for not only improving the UNIMAID’s conducive learning environment but expanding the horizon to different higher institutions of learning across Nigeria.

He therefore advised the newly matriculated students to pursue knowledge, to interact freely with the Polytechnic staff, be vigilant and be a brother’s keeper, adding that this would help to achieve the desired objectives.

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The affiliated courses included BSc Mass Communication, BSc Accountancy, BSc Public Administration, BSc Business Administration and BSc Banking and Finance respectively.

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Trouble Looms As Egbesu Group Drags FG To Court Over Resource Control, Others

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Group known as Supreme Egbesu Assembly (SEA) has dragged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to a Federal High Court, Yenagoa, over failure to create additional 24 Local government councils in Bayelsa State as the need for Ijaw to control natural resources in its territory.

The Originating Summons marked: FHC/YNA/CS/63/2026 was filed on Tuesday April 21, 2026 by the plaintiffs including; Felix Tuodolo, Weri Digifa, Ebi Waribigha, Kabowei Akamade, Rosebella Jackson, Thomas Jacklloyd, Primrose Kpokposei, David Imole and Welman Warri at the Federal High Court Yenagoa.

Joined as defendants in the suit are the National Assembly, the Clerk of the National Assembly and the Attorney General of the Federation.

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In the court documents, the Egbesu Assembly premised their action on the alleged failure of the federal government particularly the National Assembly to deliberate, approve and amend the relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

This, according to them, is to allow for resource control as well as the creation of additional LGAs in the state to fulfil the requirements in line with the Constitution.

READ ALSO:FG Bans Unauthorized Use Of Ambassador Title

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The group is therefore seeking, among others, the amendment of the constitution by the National Assembly to allow for the right to resource control.

The Supreme Egbesu Assembly described the suit action as a promise kept.

Mranwh, In a press statement announcing the institution of the lawsuit on Tuesday, the Egbesu Assembly recalled that, on 12th February 2026, it wrote to both the Federal Government and the National Assembly wherein its gave a 21-Day ultimatum for the duo to respond to the age-long demands for resource control and creation of additional LGAs or face a lawsuit.

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The statement partly reads: “Recall that on 12th February 2026, we did inform you that we have written to the National Assembly and the federal government on the need for the creation of an additional 24 Local Government Areas in Bayelsa State as well as the control of our God-given natural resources in Ijaw territory.

“We promised that if the National Assembly and or federal government did not respond to these age-long demands, we were going to seek legal actions to address our demands.

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We gave a time frame of twenty-one days for them to respond to us—we got no response!

“Today the Supreme Egbesu Assembly (SEA) has kept to its promise.

“We instituted an action at the Federal High Court Yenagoa against the National Assembly and the Federal Government after the expiration of the 21 days. Today we were in court for the first hearing of both cases.”

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According to the group, creation of additional local government areas for Bayelsa is as old as the creation of the State itself.

The SEA maintained that “there is nowhere in any democracy where a state is limited to just 8 LGAs: more pathetic is the fact that Bayelsa State is an oil bearing State.

“Bayelsa State presently has twenty four Rural Development Authorities (RDA) which can be easily converted to Local Government areas thereby making the State eligible to participate in the sharing of allocation and the development of their areas for the purpose of justice and equity.

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Gentlemen, we wish to inform you that our suit on Resource Control is a revival of our age long agitation.”

The group further stated that Nigeria can no longer operate a system where contributors to the national coffers are not in charge of their resources.

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The group added that the lawsuit is therefore for the Ijaw people.

The Ijaw Nation must be free from all economic strangulation carried out against them by successive Governments,” they added.

The SEA called on all Ijaws to be steadfast and resolute, and continue to support the process by attending all court sessions, stating that “your solidarity is very vital at this point of time in our history. “

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The group also called on other Ijaw organizations, communities, Niger Delta people, organizations and all people of goodwill “to join in the march to control and manage our despoiled and mismanaged natural resources.”

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BREAKING: Tinubu Sacks Wale Edun, Dangiwa As Ministers

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President Bola Tinubu has approved a minor reshuffle of the Federal Executive Council, removing the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, from their cabinet positions.

Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yomi Odunuga, said the development was contained in a memo signed by the
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.

According to the memo, Taiwo Oyedele has been appointed as the new Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.

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Also appointed is Dr. Muttaqha Darma as Minister-designate for Housing and Urban Development.

READ ALSO:VIDEO: I Took Over Leadership From Myself; The Late Buhari Is Me — Tinubu

The memo directed the outgoing ministers to complete handover processes to their respective successors or supervising officials.

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It stated that all handing over and taking over activities must be concluded on or before the close of business on Thursday, 23rd April, 2026.

Explaining the decision, Akume said the changes were aimed at improving coordination and strengthening delivery across key sectors of the economy under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

These changes are aimed at strengthening cohesion, synergy in governance as well as achieving more impactful delivery on the economy to Nigerians, through the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Akume stated.

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READ ALSO:VIDEO: Tinubu Till 2031, City Boy Movement Members Declare At Bayelsa Rally

He added that President Tinubu acted in line with his constitutional powers as provided under Sections 147 and 148 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The SGF also conveyed the President’s appreciation to the outgoing ministers for their service to the nation and wished them well in their future endeavours, noting that the process of cabinet reinvigoration would remain continuous.

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The statement further noted that Taiwo Oyedele was appointed as Minister of State for Finance in March 2026, while Edun was among the ministers appointed on August 16, 2023.

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