Former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND),High Chief Government Ekpumopolo known along the creeks and waterways of the Niger Delta as ‘General Tompolo’ yesterday admitted that his group and other ex-militant groups were being paid the sum of $40 million annually by the federal government.

A United States’ Wall Street Journal had on Wednesday, disclosed that the federal government paid a whopping $40 million in the past 12 months to keep the Niger Delta warlords; Dokubo Asari, ‘General’ Ateke Tom, ‘General‘ Ebikabowei Boyloaf Victor Ben, and ‘General’ Government Tompolo Ekpumopolo to guard the country’s oil pipelines.

The breakdown showed that Government Ekpumopolo got the lion share of $22.5 million yearly, while former warlord, Dokubo Asari, collects $9million every year to keep his estimated 4000 soldiers at bay. Ateke Tom and Ebikabowei Boyloaf Victor Ben collect $3.5million apiece.

Tompolo who spoke yesterday through his media aide, Comrade Paul Bebenimibo stated thus; “Whoever is making the claims should come out with a proper breakdown and evidence of such payments that were not proper and not backed up.”

The Wall Street Journal in its report tagged, ‘Nigeria’s Former Oil Bandits Now Collect Government Cash’, said that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pays the warlords a princely sum of $39.5 million annually.

The payment includes the contract awarded to former warlord Tompolo to protect oil pipelines by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Asari Dokubo had also confirmed receiving the sum of $9 million a year to pay his estimated 4,000 ‘foot soldiers’ to guard oil pipelines was quoted by the the Journal as saying, ‘I don’t see anything wrong with it’. Two other former warlords, ‘Gen.’ Ebikabowei ‘Boyloaf’ Victor Ben and ‘Gen’ Ateke Tom get $3.8 million each under the arrangement.

Meanwhile, the development has drawn the ire of the Northern socio-cultural organization, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) as they maintained that Nigerians reserved the right to know how they are governed and how their resources are allocated.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2304-40m-yearly-payment-we-worked-for-it--tompolo

The breakdown showed that Government Ekpumopolo got the lion share of $22.5 million yearly, while former warlord, Dokubo Asari, collects $9million every year to keep his estimated 4000 soldiers at bay. Ateke Tom and Ebikabowei Boyloaf Victor Ben collect $3.5million apiece.
The payment includes the contract awarded to former warlord Tompolo to protect oil pipelines by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

[b]Asari Dokubo had also confirmed receiving the sum of $9 million a year to pay his estimated 4,000 ‘foot soldiers’ to guard oil pipelines was quoted by the the Journal as saying, ‘I don’t see anything wrong with it’. Two other former warlords, ‘Gen.’ Ebikabowei ‘Boyloaf’ Victor Ben and ‘Gen’ Ateke Tom get $3.8 million each under the arrangement.

Meanwhile, the development has drawn the ire of the Northern socio-cultural organization, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) as they maintained that Nigerians reserved the right to know how they are governed and how their resources are allocated.
[/b [/quote] good to hear that they are working for the gov and this is their salary. Better and so please let them be

...

Na so.

If a new government comes in after Jonathan's, will it be obligated to pay d ex militants to secure d pipelines? Have d real issues that sparked off d agitation been addressed? Many questions begging for answers!

Yes

Funny country!