The Peoples Wellbeing Association (PWA) announced Tuesday its intention to file a lawsuit in an Abuja High Court to block the renewal of a major pipeline surveillance contract, citing concerns over regional stability and national security.

The advocacy group is calling for the decentralization of the contract, arguing that the current structure favors a monopoly that excludes vital stakeholders across the Niger Delta. 

Comrade Aliyu Sadiq, Head of the PWA Legal Unit, stated that the group will seek a court injunction to halt any renewal until a more inclusive framework is established.

According to Sadiq, the push for legal intervention is a "last resort" to prevent rising tensions in oil-producing states. 

The PWA contends that concentrating the protection of critical oil infrastructure in the hands of a single entity undermines the core principles of the Niger Delta amnesty program.

"Tension is rising in the region due to the exclusion of key stakeholders," Sadiq said in a statement issued in Abuja. "No single individual should control such a critical national assignment, especially when there are concerns about capacity."

The association argues that dividing the surveillance responsibilities among multiple local stakeholders would enhance the monitoring and protection of petroleum assets. 

Sadiq suggested that stakeholders within individual states are better equipped to safeguard infrastructure within their own jurisdictions.

"Entrusting such national assets to one entity puts the country at risk," Sadiq added, noting that a distributed model would bolster transparency and overall national security.

Despite the threat of litigation, the PWA expressed continued support for the federal government. 

Sadiq praised the ongoing reforms within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) under the leadership of Group Managing Director Engr. Bayo Ojulari.

The push for decentralization of pipeline surveillance comes nearly two months after the country launched its first Mobile Drone Operations Command Centre (MDOC) to monitor and bolster the security of oil and gas pipeline.