…As CEO denies incompetence allegations

By Daniel Abia

P/Harcourt

As the infighting in the multi-billion naira oil pipeline protection contracts in the Niger Delta oil producing region rages on, the management of Abili integrated services limited has denied the allegation of its managing director’s incompetence in protecting the sensitive facilities.

Abili Integrated Services Ltd which protects a portion of oil assets in the Niger Delta said it has achieved up to 96% oil production due mainly to its efficiency in protecting oil facilities within its area of jurisdiction.

This is as the company has denied allegations of incompetent operations that allowed oil sabotage.

The company said its performance in oil asset protection was a clear evidence of its integrity with 96% oil output records. “These are not claims—they are verifiable operational results.

“Note, we do not cover all the land areas, only a portion of it. At Abili Integrated Services Limited, we stand by integrity, performance, and accountability. We believe that results—not rhetoric—should determine credibility.”

Abili Ltd was reacting to presentations made by a major pipeline protection company which has the biggest oil protection contract with the federal government, at the National Assembly.

Mr. Brown Edoghotu, the managing director, Abili Integrated services told newsmen at a press conference in Port Harcourt that the video clip displayed by the major pipeline security firm had his image in it, thus making him look like an oil vandal.

“We are security contractors in the Nigerian oil industry. We were engaged in 2021 by NAOC (now Oando) to provide security for all oil assets operated by them in the land areas comprising 12 local government areas in Rivers, Bayelsa, Imo and Delta States.

Edoghotu said the Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources of the National Assembly held a Round Table on pipeline security on April 8, 2026, adding that the major pipeline firm went to extraordinary lengths to secure its position as the sole contractor for the pipeline surveillance contract.

He said he was not against any Niger Delta son getting contracts from the federal government but that it should not be at Abili’s expense. “This involved falsely maligning other operators in the sector, making false claims on its own competence, and failing to disclose the culpability of its officials in the continued vandalization of pipelines and theft of crude oil.

“We are making this intervention today because our corporate integrity was falsely maligned during the presentation”, stating that, “it was strange that officials of other companies protecting oil assets were made to look like being those sabotaging oil assets”.

Edoghotu said the people that chased for vandalizing pipelines were traced to the same company in Warri accusing others, explaining that, “My presence at the scene after the incident was in the course of duty. The incident referenced in the video happened at Oshika in Ahaoda West LGA on September 22, 2022. My team and I visited the scene on the same day.

“My presence at the scene was part of my responsibility to ensure immediate assessment and swift resolution, to prevent recurrence. I need to emphasise that I was on ground with my team, two representatives of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company, alongside the military personnel, men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force, and members of the Civil Defence Corps, deployed to support our operations.”

He made it clear that the incident under reference was a coordinated and deliberate action to rubbish and damage his integrity, then take his job. “It is noteworthy that the then Central Corridor operator (Eni) appeared to recognize these dynamics and did not act in a manner that supported the alleged intent”, Edoghotu concluded.