Dumnamene, who spoke in an interview with Today Fm’s Ifunanya Obeme-Ndukwe, in reaction to the protest that has rocked Rumuekpe community in the past weeks, said a greater percentage of the surveillance contract was given to youths who were not involved in illegal refining activities.
The Executive Director of Youth and Environmental Advocacy Center added that the pushback against the illegal refining of crude has left the youths involved in the act stranded, noting that the surveillance job which was to serve as an alternative livelihood for them is not forthcoming, hence the continued agitation.
Dumnamene said the surveillance job was introduced to serve as a kind of amnesty for persons who are involved in artisanal refining of crude oil, to end the menace in the Niger Delta.
There have been protests in Rumuekpe community, which lasted for three weeks before the Nigerian Army dispersed them last week.
The people are calling on the Federal Government to give the pipeline surveillance contract to members of host communities.
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