The leadership of the Ijaw Youths Network (IYN) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ignore sponsored media attacks on the productive pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Limited by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

The IYN said that the recent coordinated publications about the pipeline security contract shows in clear terms that the cabal of oil thieves, who are targeting the nation’s economy, are not relenting.

IYN Coordinator, Frank Ebikabo, and Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, said in a statement on Wednesday that those behind calumnious campaigns are not patriotic citizens who have the interest of the nation and its economy at heart, and should be ignored.

The duo noted that the sudden latter-day critics of the pipeline security contract were all silent when the nation’s daily crude oil production dropped to an historical low of 900,000 barrels per day before Tantita's engagement.

According to the IYN, the hypocrites calling for the cancellation of the contract are not unaware of the tremendous improvement and gains made by the Federal Government from the contractual benefits of this well-thought out move against oil thieves.

Ebikabo and Ebiaridor noted that all Nigerians of good conscience are aware of, and applaud the fact that the gains of the contract are not in any way comparable to the contract sum. The group said that while there is still room for improvement, the nation’s oil production has witnessed commendable improvement from 900,000 to 1.64 million barrels per day.

They noted further that the number of rogue vessels arrested in connection with oil theft through the collaborative efforts of Tantita and the nation’s military are testament to the fact that President Tinubu has acted well in the nation’s interest.

The IYN commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership qualities and genuine concern for the economy of the country.

They stressed that the President deserves commendation for the rare political will to confront the scourge of oil theft with the renewal of the Tantita Security Services Limited's contract in spite of the massive resources deployed by oil thieves and others who lost out in the bidding process, against its renewal.

IYN also commended the NNPCL for taking the critical decision in the pursuit of the economic wellbeing of Nigeria, saying that Nigerians are happy over the deal with Tantita, which is yielding very positive results.

Update news