A group, Igbo National Youths Integrity Movement (INYIM), has urged the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to disregard calls alleging marginalization of the South East region in the awards of pipeline surveillance contracts.
The group during a press conference in Umuahia, Abia State, said the recent calls were sponsored to distract the government from pursuing its agenda of increasing oil production in the country.
Elekwa Nnanna, National Coordinator of the group, said the NNPCL, under the leadership of Mele Kyari had shown strong commitment to building the fortunes of Nigeria.
He said the group understood that the decision to award pipeline surveillance contracts was on the ground of competence after the due processes of procurement.
“It is therefore uncalled for when youths are being sponsored to undermine and traduce the painstaking decisions of government. As a group we cannot encourage such actions especially as it relates to Igboland.
“Pipeline Infrastructure Limited, the company overseeing the Eastern corridor of the contract has shown capacity over the years. We can State authoritatively that the company has consulted and engaged the relevant constituted authorities and youth groups in the region,” he said.
The group called on any aggrieved youths group in the Eastern region to join hands and support the federal government rather than resort to attacks and blackmail.
