The protesters, under the aegis of the Coalition of Niger Delta Communities, marched to the legislative complex chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with various inscriptions such as Say no to oil bunkering.
They were however prevented from gaining access to the premises by security personnel including officers of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.
The protest comes amid heightened legislative attention on oil theft, which has long undermined Nigeria’s crude oil output, depleted government revenue and fuelled insecurity in host communities.
As part of efforts to address the challenge, the Joint Senate and House Committees on Petroleum Resources organised a parliamentary roundtable on pipeline security and crude oil theft.
Dignitaries include Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and committee chairs on petroleum resources alongside the Inspector-General of Police, Chief of Defence Staff, Director-General of the DSS, NSA Nuhu Ribadu, and Minister of Defence Christopher Musa.
Addressing journalists, the convener of the group, Patrick Osedebe, urged lawmakers not to compromise on pipeline security and the future of the Niger Delta.
He said lawmakers should carefully examine the operations of Pipeline Surveillance Contractors especially Pipeline Infrastructure and determine whether its intervention in pipeline surveillance has delivered measurable results.
He noted that Nigeria’s oil production has improved significantly, rising to about 1.8 million barrels per day in November 2024 from around 500,000 barrels per day before 2022.
He added that the rebound demonstrates the importance of sustained collaboration between security contractors, communities and government in protecting critical national assets.
The protesters called for continuity, transparency and stronger support for initiatives that secure oil infrastructure while promoting youth engagement, education and economic opportunities.
They maintained that disrupting successful security arrangements would undermine recent gains and affect national revenue and stability.
Crude oil theft remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing economic challenges, prompting continued reliance on military operations and private surveillance contracts.
The parliamentary engagement is expected to shape future policy direction on safeguarding the country’s oil infrastructure.
Observers say the parliamentary engagement underscores the urgency of tackling crude oil theft and strengthening national security architecture.
They note that coordinated efforts between lawmakers, security agencies and private surveillance operators are vital to sustaining recent gains in oil production and revenue.
They also stress the need for transparency, accountability and sustained community engagement to ensure long-term stability in the Niger Delta and support national economic recovery efforts.
