Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku, has said the award of pipeline security contracts in the Niger Delta by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) will enhance community participation and human capacity development if properly handled by the beneficiary companies.
Kuku, who is also Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), stated this in a press release by the Special Assistant/Head, Media and Communications, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, following the controversy that has trailed the award of the contract and the protest by some former agitators in Bayelsa State.
He said for a long time he had advocated such a project to benefit oil-bearing communities in the Niger Delta.
“The communities cannot bear the effect of oil exploration activities and vandalism of pipelines and not benefit from securing their communities and environment. This is a step in the right direction by the NNPC as it will foster peace and security in the region,” he said.
The PAP chairman noted that the award of the contract to two firms in Bayelsa State was in order, and advised those against it to see reason and cooperate with the state government to ensure the initiative succeeds.
Kuku also reasoned that former leaders of the agitation in the region deserved the contract as they play a key role in ensuring the protection of the oil and gas facilities.
He however said the insinuation contained in a statement issued by the Bayelsa State Government that the former militant leaders had “mismanaged the amnesty programme to short-change their followers” was wrong, noting that the programme is managed by the Federal Government through the Office of the Special Adviser to President on Niger Delta.
“This is a programme that has positively impacted Bayelsa and other states in the region. It is domiciled in my office as Mr. President’s adviser on Niger Delta and it is not managed by former leaders of the agitation. Beneficiaries receive their monthly stipends and other allowances directly through their individual bank accounts and not through their former leaders,” Kuku said.
He urged the former leaders as key stakeholders in the programme and in the region to pursue peace at all times and avoid any act that would bring them in conflict with the law.
