•Ex-militant leader hosts former MEND commanders, ex-IYC leaders, others

The Federal Government has renewed a multi-million dollar pipeline surveillance contract to a former militant leader and Commander of the defunct Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo

It was gathered that the government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited signed the deal with Tompolo to end illegal bunkering, illegal refining and other forms of oil theft in the Niger Delta.

A source close to Tompolo, who spoke in confidence, said the deal was worth over N4billion monthly.

However, the figure and details of the contract could not be immediately confirmed officially as of press time.

The source said the former MEND commander, known for his creek credibility, will monitor and oversee other surveillance contracts, contractors and their activities in the entire Niger Delta.

He said it was a similar role Tompolo played during the former administration of President Goodluck Jonathan when Diezani Alison-Madueke was the Minister of Petroleum.

“The government merely reviewed and restored his old contract.

"Before the cancellation of his contract, the arrangements he put in place tackled illegal bunkering and increased production quota to over two million barrels per day.

“But the new government cancelled the contract, declared him wanted and he was later exonerated of all wrongdoings

"They have realised the need to bring him back because currently, the country is losing over 500,000 barrels per day to illegal bunkering”, he said.

The source said the new deal was brokered by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva and some NNPC top officials including the Group Executive Director, Upstream, Adokiye Tombomelye.

He said NNPC as a new profit-making venture was determined to curb all illegal activities affecting its operations and making it run at a loss every month.

The source said Tompolo held a crucial stakeholders’ meeting in his Oporoza country home in the Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State on Wednesday.

He said a mammoth crowd of stakeholders from the Niger Delta, especially Bayelsa State, turned up for the meeting. He said the number in attendance was over 5000.

He named persons at the meeting as former presidents of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, Udengs Eradiri and Eric Omare; priests of Egbesu, Ijaw religious organisation, led by Apostle Bodmas Kemepadei; leaders of all youth groups in the Niger Delta, heads of notorious cult groups in the region among others.

He said prominent among those in attendance were former unit commanders of MEND such as Eris Paul, aka General Oguboss; Pius Wareyal, aka General Pius; Joshua Macaiver, Pastor Reuben Wilson, Young Shall Grow and all the second phase “generals”.

He said: “Tompolo brought back all his former commanders in MEND and extended invitations to youth leaders from all the warring cult groups in the states to attend the meeting. The attendance was massive.”

A former IYC President, Udengs Eradiri, confirmed attending the meeting, describing the new arrangement as a welcomed development.

Eradiri said it was heartwarming that the Federal Government has involved communities in the protection of pipelines crisscrossing their domains.

“I believe that this new deal will work because Tompolo has the network and credibility to act as a bridge between the communities and the government.

“It was the same arrangement under the previous administration of President Goodluck Jonathan that sustained an increase in oil production up to over two million barrels per day. It will work this time,” he said.

A former IYC President and spokesman, Eric Omare, said the Federal Government reviewed a similar arrangement that existed during Jonathan’s era and expanded the scope of Tompolo.

He said the resort to a community-based approach remained the best way of curbing illegal bunkering and refining of oil in the region.

Omare said: “This is what many of us have been advocating – a community-based approach – because Tompolo cannot work with outsiders.

“He will work with community people and that was demonstrated in his consultative meetings with some of the stakeholders.

“Once there is the consciousness of stakeholders at the community levels that the illegal bunkering is not in our interest because of its environmental consequences, 50 per cent of the problem is solved. Another aspect is to address the associated economic issues.

“In Jonathan’s era, the scope was not as wide as it is given to him now. Of all the persons engaged at that time, he was the one who came out and delivered on the assignment.

“Perhaps, those in the authority have taken note of that and decided to give him a wider scope to manage.”

A Priest of Egbesu, Apostle Bodmas Kemepadei, confirmed the deal, saying already some illegal bunkering operators were holding consultations with Tompolo to surrender their illegality.

He said: “This arrangement will work. It worked before and it will surely work again. The reason why illegal bunkering has lingered for this long is that there were no credible persons that could mediate between the people and the government, people they could trust.

“But now Tompolo is filling that gap. As I speak to you those operating illegal bunkering are now coming out to surrender. They are also discussing what is in for them.

“We believe that in the coming days more persons will come out and the issue of oil theft will be tackled.

“It may not be completely eradicated, but Tompolo will achieve 95 per cent.”

https://thenationonlineng.net/tompolo-wins-multi-million-dollar-contract-to-curb-oil-theft/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1660869745

A popular Yoruba adage says

Ole nimọ ẹsẹ ole tọ lórí apata

Na thief dey sabi footsteps of thieves...

Security operatives are not effective in this particular operation.

Though tompolo is fit in for this but indirectly you're sponsoring another menace that may eat u up in the long run FG.

In all said, he's fit for it.


Meanwhile kindly lend your words on the thread with Link below. Nigerian students deserves the Best

https://www.nairaland.com/7288864/ASUU-strike-ASUU-paid-nigerian#115843803

Contract to deliver his region during the 2023 General Elections sealed and locked.




Who are they kidding?

Goat and yam theory in practice


Only problem is that in this instance, the goat is still eating the yam he is being so heavily paid to safeguard


4 billion monthly to safeguard against crude oil theft...not including Exploration and transport costs

How much profit does the Government make monthly from the sale of the not-stolen crude for it to be paying one criminal 4 billion monthly not to sabotage the pipelines, while other militants not loyal to him carry on the vandalism?

That still doesn’t change the fact that there are 49million kangaroos in Australia and 3.5million people in Uruguay which means if the kangaroos were to invade Uruguay each person will have to fight 14 kangaroos

Another sinkhole for national funds. 4 billion monthly, yet no results to show for it...but come 2023, we shall remove these money and blood suckers and free this nation

Lolz

Round and round in circles we go


On top this fossil fuel wey no dey last forever. 4 billion naira monthly. Abeg, na Mossad and US Navy Seals wan dey do security for the pipeline ni? Wetin burst my head be say na renew Dem renew the contract. He don dey chop 4 billion monthly since before ASUU go strike. Who dey collect this kind money suppose fit help us repair at least 1 refinery in the SS instead of waiting on Dangote

The popular idea of using a known thief to secure properties you don't want him to steal doesn't work all the time o.

There was a video making rounds last week where a police man with his riffle was captured on CCTV stealing money from his madam's hand bag.

I don't need to say more..

Most people wonder where the genesis of insecurity in this country started and students of history will say the "moment rebels from a particular region were rewarded with an amnesty program by Presidents Musa Yar'adua and Goodluck Ebele Johnathan" was when the Federal Government lost control of the security rudder of this country.

We have seen how a certain Northern Cleric; Sheikh Ahmed Guni has been soliciting for Amnesty openly, the same way leaders of the South-South region; the likes of Chief Edwin Clark openly championed the course of amnesty for the different groups with the MEND movement. The reward for those movements is cash disbursement in exchange for pipeline security, a well-crafted siphoning of money into the hands of a selected group of people who have not in any way created any worthwhile infrastructure in their region upon the amount granted to them so far but thankfully we don't hear of pipeline bombing or kidnapping of expatriate again.

Having said this, I wonder why people complain about Guni, his foot warlords and their actions without seeing what the end goals of their movement are. I am very sure, the social vices of these groups will be reduced if not stopped, the moment a full-blown amnesty is declared for them.

Insecurity from the South East is gradually rearing its ugly head and from all indications, there will need to be an amnesty to be declared at some point which most likely will start with a Presidential pardon for the movers and shakers of the movement.

Disbursement cajoled in the form of security contracts like this will continue and if care is not taken, there may be rebel groups formations in other regions of the country but I am almost certain that the South West will probably be the last due to their liberal approach to issues; I guess that's why they were regarded as cowards...

What did u just say

The kind of news you hear in Nigeria is very depressing.... God please change the status quo i don't want my children to experience this... ObiDatti2023

Using a cat to secure a fish.


Too many unanswered questions.

Which and whose oil well are they pumping from?

Whatever deal dey broker let the communities feel the Impact of their oil. Congratulation to tompolo.

That's a good move by the government.
This is a simple task for Tompolo na.
Just for him to call his boys to order.

Just like asking MC Oluomu to curb agberos' activities in Lagos streets, will he find that hard?


You see, to make it in this country just be a very bad person, that way, you are the best man for the job, if lie ask Tinubu supporters.

4billion monthly

In Nigeria, only the strongest are billionaires.

From known Cultists to Ritualists, to Politheifians.

The common man with a good heart is just there collecting 30k.

good for him..this is far better than killing innocent lives in the name of rubbish i dont know.
if u wano fight govt..fight them sensibly and spare lives.

see my sig.

The madness im talking of in Africa .

Men hardened by poverty and sometimes violence find it difficult to turn off their intense stares.

I guess this is part of the local content initiative. I would suggest the use of foreign mercenaries, but those ones will cost many times the agreed amount and leave people like Tompolo with the choice to return to destructive habits. Another benefit of this initiative is Tompolo will employ the ringleading vandals to pose as security agents — transmuting their stock in trade to legal activities.

Okay....

This Nigeria never seizes to amaze me.

my monthly 10m has been renewed.
God bless Buhari. God bless APC.

Tinubu is the next president!!

FG don bow finally

. I guess he's now legit