Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Niger Delta activist and investigative journalist Fejiro Oliver has challenged former militant leader Asari Dokubo over the Eastern Corridor pipeline surveillance contract, warning against any attempt to displace existing contractors through what he described as misleading claims about the value of the arrangement.
Oliver made his position known during a press briefing on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, amid growing controversy over pipeline surveillance contracts in Nigeria's oil-producing region.
The dispute centres on Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), which is responsible for surveillance operations along the Eastern Corridor of the Trans Niger Pipeline. The company is associated with managing director Osahon Okunbo and operates under an arrangement that has attracted renewed public scrutiny following Dokubo's recent statements.
Oliver, who leads the Guard Your Pipeline and I Guard My Own Movement, disputed claims that PINL receives ₦2.7 trillion annually from the Federal Government for pipeline surveillance. He maintained that the company earns slightly above ₦250 billion yearly, insisting that the larger figure being circulated does not reflect the amount he says is paid under the contract.
The figures have not been independently established through publicly available contract documents. However, the disagreement has intensified calls for greater transparency in the management of pipeline surveillance arrangements across the Niger Delta.
Dokubo had questioned the distribution of pipeline surveillance contracts, arguing that the arrangements should not disproportionately benefit particular individuals or groups while other stakeholders in the region remain excluded.
In a video that circulated on social media earlier in October, he alleged that the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, and individuals associated with the Eastern Corridor arrangement received approximately ₦2.7 trillion annually for protecting oil infrastructure.
Dokubo also questioned why Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, had faced criticism over his involvement in pipeline surveillance while other beneficiaries were allegedly receiving larger sums.
His claims generated reactions from individuals and groups who demanded evidence to substantiate the figures. The allegations against the Olu of Warri and other named individuals have not been established by the public documentation reviewed for this report.
Oliver said his campaign was established in March 2026 to advocate the decentralisation of pipeline surveillance contracts and encourage broader participation by qualified communities and stakeholders across the Niger Delta.
According to him, the objective was to ensure that more oil-producing communities benefited directly from opportunities associated with protecting petroleum infrastructure, rather than allowing the arrangements to remain concentrated among a limited number of contractors.
He argued that the campaign was not designed to advance ethnic interests or undermine any particular community. Instead, he said, it sought a fairer distribution of opportunities among capable participants across the region.
Oliver expressed concern that the controversy surrounding the contract was diverting attention from the movement's original objectives. He maintained that inaccurate figures could mislead the public and potentially be used to justify attempts to displace an existing contractor.
He also recalled that Dokubo had previously supported aspects of the campaign for decentralisation and had commended PINL, its management, the Olu of Warri and the company's late founder, Captain Nosa, for their approach to pipeline surveillance and stakeholder engagement.
The activist said he was therefore surprised by the recent claims about the contract's financial value and urged stakeholders to distinguish between verified information and allegations circulating publicly.
Oliver further argued that the Eastern Corridor arrangement already provided opportunities for Itsekiri and Edo interests through its existing structure. He said other communities should pursue opportunities to participate in surveillance contracts across the wider Niger Delta rather than seek to take over arrangements already awarded to other stakeholders.
He specifically identified Urhobo, Isoko, Ilaje, Opobo, Bakassi, Ibibio, Efik and Ogoni communities among the groups that should benefit from broader participation in the sector.
His intervention comes amid wider demands for the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to disclose details of pipeline surveillance contracts, including their financial terms, operational responsibilities and performance requirements.
On October 9, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations for Good Governance called on the Federal Government and NNPC Limited to publish relevant contract information to address speculation about the amounts paid to contractors.
The coalition's spokesperson, Declan Ihekaire, said access to the agreements, payment schedules, scope of work and performance records would allow Nigerians to assess the claims against documented evidence.
Ihekaire also disputed the ₦2.7 trillion figure, stating that available information suggested the PINL contract was worth approximately ₦150 billion. He cautioned against confusing the total value of a corporate contract with the personal income of an individual executive.
The coalition noted that pipeline surveillance contracts may cover personnel, equipment, logistics, security operations, technology, subcontracting and community engagement. Consequently, determining the financial benefits received by individual beneficiaries requires more than citing the overall value of a contract.
The Niger Delta Coalition had also warned on October 7 that the dispute could aggravate tensions among Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo communities if allegations concerning traditional institutions and security contracts were circulated without verifiable evidence.
The group urged public figures to exercise restraint and called for disputes involving the Olu of Warri, PINL and other stakeholders to be addressed through appropriate institutional channels. It also reported that the Olu of Warri had rejected the allegations and challenged Dokubo to substantiate his claims with documentary evidence.
The controversy highlights the importance of transparency in a sector closely connected to Nigeria's oil production, public revenue and energy security. Pipeline surveillance arrangements are intended to help protect critical infrastructure against vandalism, crude theft and other activities that threaten petroleum operations.
Their effectiveness, however, should be assessed through measurable outcomes, including the protection of infrastructure, reductions in illegal activities, operational performance and value for public money.
The latest disagreement also raises questions about how surveillance opportunities should be distributed among qualified contractors and host communities without allowing ethnic rivalry or political pressure to determine the outcome.
Oliver has maintained that decentralisation should create opportunities for additional communities rather than automatically transfer an existing contract from one beneficiary to another. His position places the emphasis on expanding participation while preserving accountability and the integrity of contractual arrangements.
Neither the competing financial claims nor the allegations of an attempt to take over the Eastern Corridor contract should be treated as established facts without supporting evidence. The publication of the relevant agreements and official payment records would provide a clearer basis for assessing the competing positions.
As calls for transparency grow, the Federal Government and NNPC Limited face renewed pressure to clarify the contractual arrangements and provide sufficient information for the public to evaluate their financial implications and operational results.
The outcome of the dispute could influence wider discussions about equitable participation, public accountability and the management of security contracts in the Niger Delta, where oil infrastructure remains economically significant to Nigeria.
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