The Federal Government sees nothing wrong with the decision to hire private contractors to man its oil pipeline network nationwide.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company, Mr Mele Kyari, spoke to journalists on the matter on Tuesday at the 49th Session of the State House Briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said though the security agencies were doing their part, end-to-end pipeline surveillance would require the involvement of private entities and community stakeholders.
Kyari said, “We need private contractors to man the right of way to these pipelines. So we put up a framework for contractors to come and bid and they were selected through a tender process. And we believe we made the right decision.”
There have been kicks by different youth groups against the selection of a former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Government Ekpemupolo, known better as Tompolo, as a benefactor of the pipeline surveillance contract.
But, justifying the decision of the government on the pipeline contract award, Kyari explained that although the FG is not dealing directly with Tompolo, it signed a contract with a company the former militant leader has interest in.