The Niger Delta Youth Parliament has announced plans to stage a peaceful protest across four cities over alleged exclusion in a multi-billion naira pipeline surveillance contract.
The planned demonstrations will hold simultaneously in Uyo, Warri, Port Harcourt and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory on the 20th of April, 2026.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, the Speaker of the Parliament, Rt. Hon. Daniel Ifon Samuel, said the action followed growing frustration among youths in the region.
He alleged that the pipeline surveillance contract, reportedly worth about ₦12.87bn monthly and handled by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited(PINL), had been concentrated in the hands of a few individuals. He stated that PINL have held on to this surveillance job for over a decade with no reasonable result to show in terms of human capacity and infrastructural development in the region.
Ifon said the development had sidelined many capable youths who were in urgent need of economic opportunities amid worsening hardship.
He added that the disruption of local oil refining activities across the Niger Delta had further compounded the situation, leaving many young people without sustainable livelihoods.
“The contract has been concentrated in the hands of a limited few, thereby excluding the majority of capable youths within the region,” he said.
The group called on the Federal Government to urgently review the surveillance framework to ensure broader participation and inclusiveness.
Ifon noted that such a move would promote fairness, create employment and reduce rising tensions in the oil-rich region.
He stressed that the protest would be conducted peacefully and in line with the law, assuring that participants would cooperate with security agencies.
“Our objective is to express our grievances in a responsible and constructive manner. We remain committed to maintaining order,” he added.
The Parliament also appealed to security agencies to provide adequate protection for protesters and the general public during the demonstrations.
