Group warns against Shell’s TNP shutdown threats

– Urge NNPCL to accommodate Ogoni in pipeline surveillance

Mkpoikana Udoma

Port Harcourt — The National Youth Council of Ogoni People, NYCOP, has cautioned Ogoni youths against threats to disrupt crude oil flow through the Shell-operated Trans Niger Pipeline, TNP.

Recall that some Ogoni youths under the auspices of Youth Leaders of Ogoni Oil Host Communities, had threatened to shut down the TNP should the NNPC fail to to award pipeline surveillance contracts to them within 14 days.

NYCOP says while it backs the demand for pipeline surveillance contracts for Ogoni youths, it considers the threats to shut down the TNP as a wrong and violent approach to address their grievances.

Speaking, President of NYCOP, Theophilus Mbagha Esq. cautioned that such threats were “wrong and violent” and urged youths to explore peaceful means to achieve their goals.

Mbagha assured Ogoni youths of his support and urged peaceful conduct, citing MOSOP’s commitment to protecting Ogoni’s interests.

He said, “I want to call on our youths to desist from issuing threats as a means of achieving their goals. If there are issues, we should explore all peaceful means to dialogue and get things resolved. That is the position of NYCOP on the issue.

“While we support the award of the pipeline contracts to Ogoni youths as a means of engaging them meaningfully, we strongly discourage the use of threats and acts of violence as a means to achieve goals,” Mbagha said.

Mbagha assured the youths of his support at all times and urged them to conduct themselves peacefully in their quest to be heard and seek redress of all kinds.

NYCOP further encouraged Ogoni youths to be hopeful in the commitment of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, MOSOP, to protect the interests of Ogoni youths.

He assured that the President of MOSOP, Fegalo Nsuke is very committed to youth development, and urged Ogoni youths to avoid all violent tendencies and maintain the peace in Ogoni communities.