Olu Of Warri Challenges Asari Dokubo Over ₦2.7trn Pipeline Surveillance Claim

The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has rejected a claim by former Niger Delta militant leader Asari Dokubo that the monarch receives ₦2.7 trillion annually from pipeline surveillance contracts, demanding documentary evidence to substantiate the allegation.

The monarch’s representative and liaison to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its joint venture partners dismissed the claim in a statement dated Tuesday, describing it as unsubstantiated.

The representative said the allegation required a public response because of its potential implications for the monarch’s reputation and the wider debate over pipeline surveillance and oil security in the Niger Delta.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the allegation that the Olu of Warri receives ₦2.7 trillion annually from pipeline surveillance contracts is categorically rejected,” the statement said.

The representative challenged Dokubo to provide official documents supporting the claim.

“We challenge Mr. Dokubo to produce the documentary evidence upon which this extraordinary claim is based,” the statement added.

The monarch’s representative also criticised what he described as Dokubo’s provocative style of public commentary, arguing that strong assertions should be accompanied by verifiable evidence.

“Attention should not be confused with credibility, and forcefulness should not be mistaken for evidence,” the statement said.

The representative urged public figures discussing oil production, pipeline surveillance and resource control to distinguish between allegations, assumptions and established facts.

He warned that unverified claims involving the Olu of Warri, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, Tantita Security Services and other individuals or organisations could deepen public suspicion and revive longstanding grievances in the Niger Delta.

The statement also cautioned against presenting disagreements over pipeline surveillance and oil-related contracts along ethnic lines, stressing that Nigeria’s petroleum infrastructure remains critical to crude oil production, government revenue, foreign exchange earnings and economic stability.

According to the representative, pipeline surveillance contracts deserve legitimate public scrutiny, particularly regarding their beneficiaries, award processes, performance and contribution to the national interest.

“Pipeline surveillance contracts in Nigeria are not ordinary commercial arrangements,” the statement said, adding that the debate should focus on facts rather than the influence or prominence of the individuals involved.

The controversy comes amid continuing concerns over crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and the protection of critical petroleum infrastructure in the Niger Delta.

The involvement of private security companies in pipeline surveillance has also generated debate, with stakeholders calling for greater transparency in contract awards and increased participation of oil-producing communities.

The Olu of Warri’s representative maintained that anyone alleging that the monarch receives ₦2.7 trillion annually from pipeline surveillance contracts should be prepared to substantiate the claim with official records.

He said unsupported allegations could fuel ethnic suspicion and tensions in a region already affected by longstanding disputes over resource control, political representation and access to economic opportunities.

The statement did not indicate whether the monarch or his representatives would pursue legal action over the allegation.

Instead, it called for a fact-based discussion on pipeline surveillance contracts, their beneficiaries and their implications for Nigeria’s oil industry, government revenue and host communities.