Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — A coalition of ex-militant leaders in the Niger Delta region have petitioned President Bola Tinubu, not to renew the N48 billion pipeline security contract awarded by his predecessor to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, a firm linked to Ex-Militant Leader, Government Ekpemupolo also known as Tompolo.
The coalition in a petition signed by an ex-agitator and Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, from Ondo State, Mr. Ezra Areo, alleged that the achievements against oil theft recorded by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited was misleading and a propaganda.
Areo claims that the crude oil vessels paraded on the media and burnt in Delta state were all aimed at pushing the federal government to approve the renewal of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited multi-million-dollar Pipeline Surveillance Contract worth over $50million monthly.
He alleged that despite the billions of dollars spent by the federal government’s war on crude oil theft, including Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited multi-million-dollar pipeline surveillance contract, there has been no significant increase in the volume of crude oil sales.
The petition reads, “The crude oil pipelines and vessels loading points displayed on TV were constructed by Mr. Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) prior to the Presidential Amnesty in 2009 by Late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Otherwise, given Tompolo’s public reputation, what sane person will spend hundreds of millions of naira and spend weeks and months to construct illegal crude oil pipelines to syphon crude oil into vessels and barges right in Tompolo’s backyard in the creeks of Delta State. Nigerians should not be deceived because crude oil bunkering was Tompolo’s main source of revenue prior to Amnesty in 2009.
“These multi-billion-dollar pipeline surveillance contract were for many years handled by the late Capt. Idahosa Wells Okunbo, fondly called Capt. Hosa. After his death, the former Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited Mele Kyari allegedly conspired with Mr. Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) to continue to defraud Nigerians using the misleading propaganda of their war against crude oil theft and Pipeline Surveillance Contracts.
“They divided the over $1.3billion (N1trillion) contracts, including the late Capt. Hosa’s contracts into the eastern corridor, central corridor, and the western corridor. They awarded the western corridor to Tompolo’s associated company in favour of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited at the total negotiated contract sum of $370,807,173.00 for one year.
“The eastern corridor was awarded through the Olu of Warri Ogiame Atuwatse III associated company in favour of Ocean Marine Security Limited, for the sum of $370,807,173.00 only for one year, and contract ceiling cost of $152,107,065.00 bringing the contract to a total sum of $522,914,238.00.
“The central corridor contract worth the same hundreds of millions of dollars which was for Bayelsa state was allegedly influenced away from Bayelsa indigenes by Timipre Sylva the then Minister of State Petroleum and was awarded to his proxy, Tompolo’s relative Mr. Matthew Tonlagha from Delta state, hence Timipre Sylva deprived Bayelsa state indigenes of their share from the hundreds of millions of dollars in Pipeline Surveillance Contract which would have created thousands of jobs and increase the State’s revenues from taxation, hotel accommodation, transportation, food purchasing power of indigenes etc.
“Also, we are highly disappointed that our beloved and highly respected National Security Adviser Nahu Ribadu was tricked by Mr. Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) informants embedded in the various government agencies including the NSA’s office into visiting Oporoza Gbaramatu Kingdom to visit Mr. Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo (Tompolo). Such visits and decisions undermine the office of the National Security Adviser.
“Therefore, I humbly call on you Sir, to decentralise the award of all pipeline surveillance and maintenance Contracts across the different states in the Niger Delta region to reputable ex-militant leaders who worked with you and supported your plans for our nation from the onset during your primaries.”
