Business

CNDEN Demands Oil Pipeline Surveillance Contract Dispersal

Published

8 months ago

March 16, 2026

The Coalition of Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities (CNDEN), has called on President Bola Tinubu to decentralise the oil pipeline surveillance contracts across different communities hosting the national pipelines.

The group insisted that not decentralising pipeline protection contracts along sphere of influence in the region was likely going to breed another armed struggle as the signs were already evident and would negatively impact on the struggling economy.

In a statement by its officials who represent diverse ethnic nationalities of the region, CNDEN noted that pipeline protection contracts should be given to major stakeholders across the region.

The statement, collectively signed by the President, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Dr Alaye Tari; President, Coalition of Isoko Youth Group, Oghenekaro Tony Edor; Emmanuel Goteh Bieh, President, Ogoni Federated Youth, Emmanuel Goteh Bieh; President, Ibom Youth Council, Lord Marmin Knight ;and Chairman, ijaw Youth Council, Eastern Zone, Comrade Ibiso Harry, said “The CNDEN wishes to draw President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s attention to the growing concerns surrounding the monopolisation of pipeline protection contracts in the Niger Delta by a narrow group of individuals.

“It is important to clarify that no Niger Delta person is calling for the revocation of the pipelines surveillance contract. Instead, all concerned Niger Deltans are advocating decentralisation to ensure accountability, equal representation and fairness for all stakeholders in the region.

“The Niger Delta remains the economic backbone of Nigeria. The daily extraction of crude oil and gas from our lands and waters sustains the national economy and funds government operations across the federation. However, the region’s unique terrain and the recent armed struggle that disrupted oil and gas infrastructure and activities cannot be overlooked.

“All struggle leaders are naturally inclined to control their primary domain. Therefore, it is crucial that we consider these concerns to prevent another phase of armed struggle in the region. All indications suggest that this reality is imminent due to deep-rooted grievances exacerbated by the unprecedented greed of individuals who should have openly discussed this issue with their colleagues and in the spirit of brotherhood.

“Therefore, it will be counterproductive in the near future. It’s unacceptable that the protection of such critical national assets is concentrated in a few individuals while the majority of stakeholders and host communities bearing the environmental and social burden of oil exploration are sidelined.”

The coalition contended that it was wrong for pipeline protection in the region to be the exclusive preserve of a few individuals, saying such an arrangement is unjust, politically insensitive and currently causing resentment among the various ethnic nationalities of the Niger Delta region.

CNDEN insisted that “As representatives of the diverse ethnic nationalities of the Niger Delta, we strongly demand that pipeline protection contracts be decentralised and fairly distributed among credible stakeholders within each Niger Delta state. Every oil-producing state in the region should have the opportunity to participate through recognised stakeholders, community structures and indigenous security networks who understand their terrain and have a direct stake in protecting national assets.

“By decentralising pipeline protection contracts and allowing stakeholders in each Niger Delta state to take responsibility for protecting pipelines within their territories, the federal government will fragment potential high-security risks and achieve several important outcomes.

They coalition listed the benefits to include: “improved grassroots intelligence and surveillance, as local communities understand their environment better than external actors; reduced crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, as host communities will feel a sense of ownership in protecting the infrastructure; strengthened peace and stability in the Niger Delta by eliminating the perception that the Federal Government favours certain individuals over others; economic empowerment and employment opportunities for thousands of Niger Delta youths, thereby reducing restiveness in the region; greater transparency and accountability in the management of pipeline protection operations.”

According to the body, many respected elders and long-standing stakeholders across the Niger Delta were deeply unhappy with the current arrangement but due to their patriotism , statesmanship and the shared responsibility they feel towards preserving peace in the region, many of them have chosen not to openly express their anger in ways that will undermine peace and national interest unlike before where every possible means necessary could have been deployed to express these grievances.

“But the reality is that the younger leaders and stakeholders are watching closely and the growing frustration over the perceived exclusion of the region’s ethnic nationalities could become a dangerous time bomb waiting to explode if not urgently addressed with fairness and inclusivity.

“ There is obviously a palpable discontent brewing if not attended quickly could lead to something unexpected. The truth is that even those leaders who these greedy contractors like Tantita claims in official quarters that are working with them have openly expressed their displeasure over the disrespectful manner they have been treated.

“Most of them are just doing the little they because they don’t want conflict and better still allow strangers to infiltrate their environment which definitely would lead to crisis

“We believe it is important to clearly state that this situation is not the fault of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. From all indications, the current lopsided arrangement appears to have been influenced by the selfish decisions and narrow interests of the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, working in collaboration with a few greedy individuals from the Niger Delta who have chosen personal enrichment over the collective interest of the region.

“The Coalition believes that the President may not have been fully briefed on the implications of concentrating such sensitive contracts in the hands of a few individuals while excluding the broader ethnic nationalities and host communities whose lands host the pipelines,” the insisted.

Business

Nigeria Loses N17tr Yearly To Abandoned Projects

Published

2 days ago

November 9, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has disclosed that it has lost an estimated N17 trillion to abandoned and uncompleted projects across the country.

The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Enoh said this at the 8th annual induction and conference of the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN).

He explained that abandoned projects continue to lock up public funds that could have been used for infrastructure development, industrial growth, job creation and essential social services.

Represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Chris Osa Isokpunwu, he said the impact goes beyond financial losses, as incomplete projects affect communities and limit access to important public services

He cited examples of that remain unopened, schools that cannot accommodate students, roads that fail to connect communities and electricity projects that have not delivered their intended benefits.

The Registrar-General and Chief Executive Officer of CIPMN, Henry Ifeanyi Mbadiwe, also identified poor project management as a major challenge affecting development in Nigeria.

He revealed that the institute had developed a project management curriculum for Nigerian universities, which has received approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC). The programme is expected to enable universities to offer project management as a bachelor’s degree.

Mbadiwe further referenced findings by the Presidential Projects Assessment Committee, which identified 11,886 ongoing federal capital projects in 2011, with an estimated financial commitment of ?7.78 trillion.

He noted that inadequate planning, supervision, accountability and implementation were among the factors contributing to the abandonment of projects across the country.

The minister called for stronger project management structures across ministries, departments and agencies to improve planning, monitoring and evaluation.

He added that the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment had introduced a 90-day implementation reporting cycle to strengthen transparency and monitor the progress of government programmes.

Business

Transcorp Power seeks sustained investment across Nigeria’s electricity value chain

Published

2 days ago

November 9, 2026

The Tide

Transcorp Power Plc Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Peter Ikenga has called for sustained investment across Nigeria’s electricity value chain to improve power supply and make the sector self-sustaining.

Ikenga said the company remained committed to Nigeria’s power sector and would continue investing in its operations despite the challenging business environment.

He spoke in Lagos at the third edition of the Shell Power Conference, themed “Powering Nigeria’s Progress: Turning Ambition and Action into Sustainable Impact”.

The Transcorp Power chief said the company would sustain electricity generation, invest in its facilities and deliver value to shareholders.

“Transcorp Power is a long-term player, not a short-term player. This year has been challenging, but what is important is getting power to schools, hospitals and businesses to power progress,” he said.

Ikenga said the company’s focus on operational efficiency and investment had strengthened its contribution to Nigeria’s electricity supply.

He disclosed that since acquiring the Ughelli Power Plant in Delta State in 2013, Transcorp Power had quadrupled its available generation capacity.

He also said the company became the first privatised power generation firm to receive a post-privatisation discharge certificate after fulfilling all its privatisation obligations.

The company’s unaudited results for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, showed a profit before tax of N83.1 billion, while its profit-before-tax margin rose to 31.2 per cent from 29.6 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.

Its total assets rose to 11.7 per cent amounting to N629.5 billion, while shareholders’ funds grew 8.9 per cent to N199.8 billion. Cash and cash equivalents also rose to N10.3 billion, supported by improved collections.

On the company’s contribution to grid stability, Ikenga said Transcorp Power’s black-start capability enabled it to restart operations without relying on electricity from the national grid.

He explained that the capability allowed the company to support power restoration following grid disturbances, helping to restore electricity supply to homes, businesses and industries.

Ikenga noted that Nigeria had an installed electricity generation capacity of about 13,000 megawatts, with an estimated potential of 50 gigawatts, adding that realising the potential would require effective coordination across the entire value chain.

“Everything in the value chain has to work,” he said.

He called for stronger collaboration among federal and state governments, regulators and private-sector operators, alongside increased private investment, to build a sustainable electricity market.

Business

FG generates N33tn revenue in 10 months – Oyedele

Published

2 days ago

November 9, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government generated a record of N33tn in revenue between January and October 2026, with improvements in digital tax administration and electronic invoicing boosting collections.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed

this while delivering the convocation lecture at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where he called for greater investment in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure to strengthen economic competitiveness and government revenue mobilisation.

This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Communications and Press Secretary, Maryann Duke.

The statement said Oyedele pointed to “improved digital systems, including electronic invoicing, as a key driver behind a record of N33tn in government revenue collected between January and October 2026.”

The minister said the performance demonstrated the potential of technology to improve revenue administration, strengthen compliance and increase efficiency across government institutions.

Speaking on the theme, ‘Digital Sovereignty and Ethics: Guarding the Economy for the Next Generation,’ Oyedele warned that Nigeria risked losing substantial economic opportunities if it continued to depend heavily on foreign digital infrastructure.

Citing Nigerian Communications Commission figures, he disclosed that the country recorded more than 157 million active internet subscriptions as of May 2026.

He explained that these connections generated significant volumes of information through financial transactions, healthcare, education and taxation.

However, citing estimates from the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Oyedele said as much as 90 per cent of the country’s data was hosted abroad.

According to him, the situation has implications for foreign exchange expenditure, employment opportunities, technological skills and Nigeria’s control over information generated by its citizens.

He compared the country’s reliance on foreign digital infrastructure with its historical dependence on imported refined petroleum products, warning against a situation where Nigerian data would be processed abroad and the resulting services sold back to domestic users.

The minister consequently advocated greater investment in local data infrastructure, technical expertise, cybersecurity and predictable regulations to enable Nigerian businesses to capture more value from the digital economy.

He clarified that digital sovereignty should not translate into technological isolation but should strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to participate competitively in international markets.

Addressing graduating students, Oyedele urged young Nigerians to become developers of technological solutions rather than remain primarily consumers of products created elsewhere.

He identified artificial intelligence as both a disruptive force and an opportunity for innovation, advising graduates to acquire relevant digital skills alongside critical thinking, creativity, sound judgement and integrity.

The minister also cautioned against irresponsible online behaviour, explaining that digital footprints increasingly influence employment prospects, commercial relationships and professional credibility.

Oyedele outlined five priorities for graduates, including continuous learning, value creation, integrity, responsible digital citizenship and active participation in national development.

“Your degree is evidence of what you have learned. Your competence will demonstrate what you can do. Your character will reveal who you truly are,” he told the graduating students.