It’s no news again that the federal government recently awarded N48 billion Naira contract to ex-Niger-Delta militant, Government Ekpemukpolo, alias Tompolo.
This is coming seven years after Tompolo was declared wanted by the federal government through the EFCC, and after revoking the maritime security contract his company, Global West Vessels Specialists Limited (GWVSL) had with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), thereby destroying his business and laying to waste the numerous boats he was using to execute the contract.
In addition to revoking the maritime security contract, the Buhari-led federal government also froze his two companies’ accounts, including that of GWVSL–all in a bid to cripple him financially. That action of the federal government in 2015 was roundly condemned by many who saw the Tompolo as a mere victim of political vendetta.
His people, under the auspices of Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative (IPDI) described the government action as an act of lawlessness. A statement signed by then national president of the union, Mr. Austin Ozobo, contended that the federal government duly awarded contracts to Tompolo’s companies and Tompolo neither breached the contracts nor abandoned them to warrant freezing of the accounts.
“The freezing of Tompolo’s accounts by the federal government is barbaric, unlawful and obnoxious because Tompolo is not under any investigation. As a matter of fact, Tompolo is not under any investigation; therefore, there is no reason for his accounts to be frozen.”
“Tompolo was just a contractor and the said contracts are ongoing, there was no case of abandonment of the said contracts. The contracts were legally awarded, there was no case of breach, the point is that Buhari should have respect for the law, he should maintain decorum,” the group maintained.
This was also the view of many observers in the maritime industry who saw Tompolo’s Global West contract with NIMASA as a performing contract –a fact corroborated by NIMASA which confirmed that the contract was performing very well, and had helped the agency to record increased revenue in line with the term of the contract.
Obviously because of the pervading political climate in the country at the time, Tompolo faced persecution from the present federal government, and was even arraigned in court along with the former Director-General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolekemi and others. He was later declared wanted by the EFCC and the court after he failed to honour the court summons.
However, on July 15, 2020, Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos in a landmark judgment, dismissed the 40-count charges bordering on alleged N34bn fraud/theft and money laundering filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against Global West VesselsSpecialist Limited.
This clearance must have paved the way for federal government to start seeking reconciliation with the ex-warlord, especially when the security situation of pipelines and oil assets in the Niger Delta became so dire. The overtures of the federal government which, Business & Maritime West, learnt has been previously rebuffed by Tompolo
However, the multi-billion Naira surveillance contract awarded to the militant leader and ex-commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has been attracting a groundswell of opposition. The N4bn per month contract, which covers the Ijaw-speaking part of Bayelsa State (Southern Ijaw and Ekeremor local government areas), Delta, Ondo, Imo and Rivers states, has unsettled some stakeholders from those areas.
Not only in the Niger Delta region, others, including the Amalgamated Arewa Youth Groups, have been questioning the Federal Government’s patronage of Tompolo, who they labelled a fugitive. But this may be out of ignorance of the High Court judgment which cleared the Niger Delta advocate.
But many notable individuals and groups have been expressing strong support for Tompolo, especially those who know his capability in delivering on such contracts. Fellow ex-agitator and president, Urhobo Youth Council, Abuja chapter, Gen Peter Aghogho expressed strong hopes that Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tomp
Hailing the decision of the federal government to engage Tompolo to secure oil pipelines in the region Gen Aghogho said the move will reduce oil theft to the lowest ebb in the region. He congratulated Tompolo, saying “Your resilience and commitment to security issues, promotion of peaceful coexistence within the Niger Delta Region has earned you this. With you in charge of the Oil Facilities in the Niger Delta Region, we are very hopeful and sure that our oil facilities are very much safe and secured.“
Deputy Senate President, and governor
Omo-Agege in a statement by his Executive Assistant on Communication, Mr.Aruviere Martin Egharhevwa, said: “I wholly support the decision of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to award its major pipelines surveillance contract to a company where High Chief Government ‘Tompolo’ Ekpemupolo
“I sincerely thank the Federal Government of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, and commend the management of NNPCL ably led by Mr. Mele Kyari for this well-advised, non-discriminatory, merit-based and strategic decision. It is a thoughtful decision that holds the promise of impacting positively on constant efforts by the Federal Government to curtail avoidable disruptions in our crude oil production and improve our national economy, security and stability.
“High Chief Ekpemupolo is an extraordinary Niger Delta patriot whose passion for proper development of the Niger Delta region is unblemished, though sometimes misunderstood. The reality is that Tompolo’s commitment to the betterment and modern development of the Niger Delta, especially its oil-bearing communities, is beyond question and etched in so many hearts and minds in the region.”
Omo-Agege added, “High Chief Ekpemupolo is a man of uncommon sense of integrity. In 2007 when President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua
“So, I am convinced that by objectively choosing a company where Tompolo has stakes through an organised bidding process to add value to responsible and peaceful oil exploration in the region, the Federal Government and NNPCL acted with excellent wisdom. Some may disagree and it is their right to do so, and it is duly respected. However, I sincerely appeal for the understanding of all.
“I congratulate High Chief Government ‘Tompolo’ Ekpemupolo and the management and staff of his company for their successful bid and wish them well. They are encouraged and advised to engage relevant stakeholders, particularly those from communities with oil exploration pipelines, as they execute their contract. I trust them to be guided by the best interests of our people, especially our responsible and energetic youths.
“For the good of all, I sincerely appeal to our people to support the Federal Government and its relevant security agencies and NNPCL to contribute to securing greater peace in the Niger Delta and the entire nation through a responsible, all-embracing implementation of the NNPCL pipelines surveillance contract.”
The Arogbo Ijaw Network, through its National Coordinator, Feyebo Eperetei, declared in a statement that Tompolo was deserving of the contract “because of his charisma and capacity to interface with everybody in the Niger Delta region.”
The fight against opposition to the contract has been largely executed by others who see Tompolo as the right man for the job. The Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative (IPDI) and Centre for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade (CHURAC) both Niger Delta advocacy organizations, said the ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, will seal the drain-off points and locations of illegal oil bunkering.
In two separate statements, the National President IPDI, Austin Ozobo, and Chairman, Board of Trustees, CHURAC, Alaowei Cleric, stated that the oil bunkering syndicate knowing what Tompolo was capable of doing, just resorted to sponsoring protests against the ex-militant leader.
Said IPD, “The big oil thieves are afraid that Tompolo will identify their concealed draw-off points on the pipelines and getaway routes in the creeks and block them. That is exactly what he will do with the assistance of security agents. Because they know he will put them out of business, they are sponsoring protests against Tompolo’s involvement in the oil surveillance contract.
“The cartel that deals with international oil bunkering know very well that Tompolo will not be bothered with small-scale oil-thieves, but big time exporters of stolen crude. Hence they embarked on calumny and mischief against Tompolo.
“Five companies got the surveillance contracts in question. They are not worried about others. Their only concern is Tompoolo because he has what it takes to stop them from stealing the oil. Our worry again is why some greedy and selfish Niger Delta youths allow oil thieves to fight their brother, Tompolo.
“The protest clearly shows that Tompolo is capable and is dreaded by the cartel of the big-time and small-scale oil thieves. He did the work perfectly when the job was awarded to him during the Jonathan administration. The records are there. Based on these records, they persuaded him to accept the offer after declining the offer for about a year now.
“However, even if we say that oil belongs to us, there is a need to protect our environment from this unredeemable pollution. That is why we need to reduce the level of pollution by checking the bunkering activities,” the group said.
Speaking in the same vein, CHURAC said: “We know those who are protesting are being sponsored by the cartel who indulge in the illegal business. They know that their days are numbered. Tompolo will soon block all the leakages where the thieves siphon our oil.
“We advise President Buhari and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva to disregard the ranting of those dissident or delinquent elements.
“The pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tompolo by the Federal Government of Nigeria is the right step in the right direction. Tompolo, being a maritime security expert in Africa, is the right man to save Nigeria from the loss of her daily earnings in the petroleum sector.
“Nigeria’s crude oil production is on a steady decline due to the activities of illegal oil bunkerers in the Niger Delta.
“This is not the first time this contract is awarded to Tompolo. It was first awarded to him during the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’
“We can safely say that awarding the contract to Tompolo is in accordance with the Nigerian Content Development Law. It is also in tandem with one of the demands of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF’- 16-point demands.
“Towards the tail end of Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, opposition elements used propaganda to brainwash the present government. The contract was eventually taken away from Tompolo and awarded to someone, who probably did not even know the colour of the black oil. We all saw a surge in illegal oil bunkering activities during that period.
“Tompolo has been in the business of securing the nation’s economic assets since 2004 in collaboration with security agents. There is no other person who can execute this contract better than him. We commend President MuhammaduBuhari for considering Tompolo for the pipeline job against all odds.
“The northern youths protesting against the award of the contract to Tompolo should look beyond their ethno-religious sentiment and consider its overall benefits to the nation,” the group said.
Meanwhile, following the deepening tension in the region over the contract, the President, Ijaw National Congress, INC, Prof Benjamin Okaba, inaugurated a five-man committee “to interface with the different Ijaw groups to harmonize their interests and to ensure that in the process the Ijaw unity and agenda are not compromised.”
Inaugurating the committee at Ijaw House, Yenagoa, INC President, Okaba, called on Ijaw people, particularly youths, to restrain themselves from sowing seeds of discord and promoting pull-down syndrome.
Said Okaba: “Recently, the INC has been buffeted with reports of brewing tensions among various Ijaw youth groups as a result of the pipeline surveillance contract. We frown at such divisive tendencies and propensities.
“It is given the above concise preamble that I deem it necessary for us to interface on the brouhaha being generated by the recent reports of the renewal of oil pipeline surveillance contract to our brother, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly called Tompolo.”
The committee is headed by the National Financial Secretary of INC, Chief Kennedy Odiowei, with a former President of Ijaw Youth Council, (IYC), Chief Oyenefie Jonjon as Secretary, Eneyo Anthanasius, Chief Dan Ekpebide, and Ambah Binaebi as members. The committee was expected to submit its preliminary reports in two weeks
As an indication of his capability and desire to deliver, Tompolo has been reported to have been adroitly engaging key stakeholders in the Niger Delta, assuring them of his commitment to run an all-inclusive operation to stamp out pipeline vandalism, oil theft and illegal bunkering in the region.
According to the report, “Tompolo, a man renowned for his native intelligence, has met with traditional rulers, youth and women groups, activists and other stakeholders in the South-South geopolitical zone, urging them to support the efforts to rid the region of oil thieves for the good of all.” He was reported to have recently declared a clampdown on all illegal activities in the region as he held a stakeholders’ consultative meeting ahead of the commencement of the pipeline surveillance activities on Saturday, September 3, 2022.
While speaking at the stakeholders’ meeting held at the palace of the King of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Oboro Gb
Tompolo, the report said, used the forum to advice youths in the Niger Delta to always engage in productive ventures that would add value to the region, noting that they must always be seen to be doing the right thing.
The efforts of Tompolo in engaging stakeholders, it was gathered, had succeeded in softening the hard line posture of other known ex-militant leaders in the region. Some of them, who were earlier opposed to the idea of awarding such a huge contract to Tompolo, are said to have fallen in line with the newly-found peace-building process.
Going by Tompolo’s past record in pipelines security and his present determination to put an end to crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta, the federal government may have struck the right cord in its fledging battle against oil theft syndicates in the oil and gas sector. As those who know him very well have said, Tompolo may be the trump card the federal government has brandished against the highly-placed and die-hard crude oil thieves. And as the last word, that makes Tompolo, the stone which the builders (the federal government) rejected which has
