Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara sparked a new uproar over the Federal Government’s award of an N48 billion crude oil pipeline surveillance contract to Tantita Security Services, led by former militant commander Government Ekpemepulo nicknamed Tompolo.
In Port Harcourt, the governor stated that awarding such a contract to ‘one guy’ was wrong.
The Ikwerre Peoples Congress (IPC) backed the governor, stating there was no reason for the government to exclude vital stakeholders like the Ikwerre people, whose land hosts a substantial portion of the pipelines.
However, several other Niger Delta leaders and stakeholders affiliated with the Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change (NDIMRC) believe the Tompolo contract should be renewed because it has helped to reduce oil theft in the region.
Fubara warned a high-level Federal Government team led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu that “security of the pipeline should not be given to one man or one person.”
He said: “How can someone from Kalabari be controlling the pipeline in Ogoni? There is no way it will work.
“We must look at bringing all the key people in the various communities.”
“Two of our sons from Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom are heading the ministry of petroleum. We don’t want them to fail. We must give them the necessary support.”
He encouraged the delegation to contact the appropriate people in order to obtain the necessary information.
