Ijaw Youths, Niger Delta Monarchs Urge FG to Replace 60-Year-Old Pipelines
Ijaw Youth Council President Doubra Okotete and Niger Delta monarchs urged the Federal Government and NNPCL to replace oil and gas pipelines operating for over six decades, speaking at a stakeholders' forum in Port Harcourt and Yenagoa on October 9-10, 2026. They also demanded action on gas flaring and decommissioned wellheads, warning that ageing infrastructure poses environmental hazards and threats to host community livelihoods beyond just sabotage risks.
The appeal emphasized that pipeline protection must include infrastructure-related hazards, not only preventing sabotage. Monarchs stressed that national production targets require engaging grassroots stakeholders since pipelines reside in communities, not Abuja. They cautioned that oil spills from deteriorating pipelines could cause prolonged environmental degradation and economic hardship, urging residents to discourage sabotage while holding companies accountable for preventive measures against spills from ageing infrastructure.
With Nigeria's petroleum revenue tied to host community stability, will the FG and NNPCL act on these community-led infrastructure safety appeals before environmental degradation occurs in the Niger Delta, or will ageing pipelines continue threatening both ecosystems and local economies?