The Chairman of the Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum, Prince Kpokpogri, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to disregard what he described as “blackmail and sponsored propaganda” against Government Ekpemupolo over the oil pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.
Kpokpogri made the appeal in an open letter addressed to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, amid ongoing debates and criticisms surrounding the surveillance contract being handled by Tantita Security Services in the Niger Delta region.
According to him, certain individuals within and outside the Niger Delta were allegedly sponsoring sustained media attacks against Tompolo and his company following growing calls for the decentralisation of pipeline surveillance operations.
He described the campaigns as the activities of “subversive elements” and “fifth columnists” allegedly driven by personal interests rather than genuine concern for the development of the region or the country.
Kpokpogri noted that while there was nothing wrong with advocating broader participation in pipeline surveillance contracts, such demands should not be turned into what he called a coordinated campaign aimed at discrediting Tompolo.
The activist stressed that Tompolo’s contributions to the Niger Delta struggle and peace-building efforts in the region should not be ignored.
Kpokpogri, who is also the publisher of Integrity Watchdog Magazine and a member of the Board of the International Human Rights Commission, recalled Tompolo’s involvement during the activities of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and the agitation for resource control in the oil-rich region.
He stated that the militancy era between 2006 and 2009 came with severe consequences, especially during military operations carried out in Gbaramatu Kingdom and surrounding communities.
According to him, several lives were lost during the period, while Tompolo and many of his loyalists made significant sacrifices in the course of the struggle.
Kpokpogri also credited Tantita Security Services with contributing to the reduction of crude oil theft and helping to improve Nigeria’s crude oil production output.
“From oil production levels that once dropped below one million barrels per day to current improvements approaching 1.8 million barrels daily, the contribution of Tantita Security Services to national economic stability cannot be ignored,” he stated.
He further praised the company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, including youth empowerment programmes, support for small businesses and assistance to communities across the Niger Delta region.
Special mention was made of Kestin Pondi and Matthew Tonlagha, whom he accused of contributing to entrepreneurship development and empowerment initiatives for youths and business owners both within and outside the region.
Kpokpogri questioned why critics of the current surveillance arrangement failed to raise similar concerns when pipeline security contracts were allegedly handled by other private operators in the past, including the late Idahosa Wells Okunbo, founder of Ocean Marine Solutions Limited.
He urged Niger Deltans and other stakeholders to support ongoing efforts aimed at tackling crude oil theft, protecting critical national assets and sanitising the oil sector.
The activist also appealed to the Federal Government to continue supporting Tantita Security Services, citing the company’s experience, operational capacity and familiarity with the difficult riverine terrain of the Niger Delta.
According to him, sustaining confidence in the company would help strengthen ongoing efforts to secure oil pipelines and improve national economic stability through increased oil production.
