The President, Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC), Dr Frederick Fasehun, has debunked insinuations that OPC had bagged a monthly N2.4 billion pipeline protection contract from government. Fasehun said this on Monday in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos.
However, he said he had earlier addressed the press on the intention of OPC to stem pipeline vandalisation in the South West: “OPC was only toeing the line of private security agencies formed by militants in the Niger-Delta who secured pipeline-protection contracts in their area… Equity and Federal Character dictate we should get a similar contract.
“And unlike the billions of Naira rampantly stolen from state allocations by politicians in authority in this part of the world, the pipeline contract will feed tens of thousands of families… Unfortunately, the Federal Government is yet to reply to our proposal, although we have been to Abuja to defend our proposal at several interviews,’’ Fasehun explained.
Dr Fasehun said the congress had in October 2010 furnished the Federal Government with a comprehensive proposal to provide security for petroleum pipelines in the South-West. He said this was in the wake of various incidents of pipeline vandalisation and oil theft: “Nigeria loses a significant chunk of its revenue to pipeline vandals, apart from the social dislocation and loss of lives and properties resulting from vandalised pipelines.
“Everyone knows that OPC has the network, commitment and discipline to render this legitimate and patriotic service to protect pipelines… Not only will it provide jobs for about 30,000 Nigerians, it will satisfy the yearnings of Nigerians that oil be produced and pumped through local refineries and pipelines in order to guarantee a reasonable pump price,’’ he said.
