Activist Yeigagha Throws Weight Behind IPF Call On N’Delta Leaders To Shift Focus From Surveillance Contracts To Resource Control Struggle

By Monday Peters, Abuja

Prominent public analyst, Engr. Yeigagha Henry, JP, has thrown his weight behind the Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF), calling on ex-agitators in the Niger Delta to redirect their energy towards acquiring oil blocks rather than fighting over pipeline surveillance contracts.

In a statement titled “From Pipeline Protection to Petroleum Ownership: Redefining the Niger Delta Agenda,” Yeigagha emphasized that pipeline surveillance is a limited and transactional opportunity, whereas oil blocks represent a gateway to real power, control, and enduring wealth.

He argued that the region’s leaders should focus on building consortiums, investment groups, and strategic alliances to gain entry into the upstream sector, rather than engaging in internal conflicts over surveillance contracts.

“The fixation on surveillance contracts has created unnecessary tension, pitting stakeholders against one another while leaving the larger prize uncontested,” Yeigagha stated. “It’s time for the Niger Delta to move beyond the politics of distribution and embrace the economics of ownership.”

Yeigagha’s call comes as a response to the ongoing debate on pipeline surveillance contracts, particularly the one awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited. He urged stakeholders to emulate successful indigenous companies that have gained entry into the upstream sector through partnerships and strategic alliances.

The IPF’s position, supported by Yeigagha, emphasizes that acquiring oil blocks requires financial capacity, technical expertise, and regulatory compliance. However, these barriers are not insurmountable, and the region must work towards organized participation in the oil industry.

Yeigagha’s statement has sparked a new wave of discussion on the Niger Delta’s approach to resource management, with many calling for a shift in focus towards long-term strategies aimed at asset acquisition and capacity development.

The public analyst warned that the Niger Delta’s future depends on its ability to position itself not just to protect pipelines, but to own what flows through them. “The time to think beyond surveillance is now,” he emphasized.