The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has rejected an allegation by former Niger Delta militant leader Asari Dokubo that the monarch receives ₦2.7 trillion annually from pipeline surveillance contracts, challenging him to produce documentary evidence to support the claim.
The monarch’s representative and liaison to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its joint venture partners dismissed the allegation in a statement dated Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
The representative said the allegation warranted a public response because of its potential impact on the monarch’s reputation and the broader debate surrounding pipeline surveillance and oil security in Nigeria.
“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.
It challenged Dokubo to provide documentary evidence supporting the claim.
“We challenge Mr. Dokubo to produce the documentary evidence upon which this extraordinary claim is based,” the statement added.
The representative also criticised Dokubo’s approach to public discourse, arguing that provocative statements should not be regarded as a substitute for verifiable evidence.
“His language is frequently categorical, provocative and insufficiently restrained. That style may command attention, but attention should not be confused with credibility, and forcefulness should not be mistaken for evidence,” the statement said.
The monarch’s representative urged public figures engaging in discussions about oil production, pipeline surveillance and resource control to distinguish between allegations, assumptions and established facts.
According to the statement, unsubstantiated 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.
It also warned against framing disagreements over oil and pipeline surveillance contracts along ethnic lines.
The statement said Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure remains a critical national asset, with the security of pipelines having implications for crude oil production, government revenue, foreign exchange earnings and the stability of the wider economy.
“There is another dimension that should not be overlooked: Pipeline surveillance contracts in Nigeria are not ordinary commercial arrangements,” it stated.
The representative argued that the contracts deserved legitimate public scrutiny, particularly regarding their beneficiaries, award procedures, performance and contribution to the national interest.
“This is precisely why the debate should not be reduced to who is louder, more influential or more militant,” the statement added.
The controversy comes amid longstanding debates over the award and implementation of pipeline surveillance contracts in the Niger Delta.
Pipeline surveillance arrangements have attracted attention because of persistent oil theft, pipeline vandalism and the need to protect critical petroleum infrastructure in the region.
The NNPC has previously defended its engagement of private contractors for pipeline surveillance, maintaining that such arrangements are made with corporate entities rather than individuals.
There have also been calls from various groups and stakeholders in the Niger Delta for broader participation by oil-producing communities in pipeline surveillance activities and greater transparency in the award of contracts.
The issue has particularly generated interest since the involvement of private security companies in protecting oil infrastructure became a prominent part of the Federal Government’s strategy to combat crude oil theft.
The Olu of Warri’s representative said the current debate should therefore focus on facts and verifiable information rather than inflammatory allegations.
He maintained that anyone making claims about the alleged payment of ₦2.7 trillion annually to the monarch should be prepared to substantiate them with official documents.
The statement also stressed the importance of responsible public discourse, warning that unsupported claims could have consequences beyond the individuals directly involved.
It said careless assertions could fuel ethnic suspicion and create unnecessary tensions in a region that has historically experienced disputes over resource control, political representation and access to economic opportunities.
The rebuttal adds a new dimension to the ongoing public debate over pipeline surveillance contracts and the role of private security operators in Nigeria’s oil-producing region.
For now, the monarch’s representative has placed the burden of proof firmly on Dokubo, insisting that the extraordinary ₦2.7 trillion claim should be backed by documentary evidence rather than assertions.
The statement did not indicate whether the monarch or his representatives planned to pursue legal action over the allegation.
It instead called for a fact-based discussion of pipeline surveillance contracts and their impact on Nigeria’s oil industry, government revenue and the communities where the country’s petroleum resources are produced.
