By Tope Kolawole
A prominent coalition of Niger Delta stakeholders has issued an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calling for the immediate termination of the multi-billion naira pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, owned by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
In the letter signed by Comrade Maxwell Efe on behalf of the Concerned Niger Delta Patriots for Transparency and Resource Justice (CNDPTRJ), the group accused the contract of being tainted by a grave conflict of interest that borders on economic sabotage against the Nigerian state.
The coalition, comprising community leaders, youth groups, environmental advocates, and stakeholders from oil-bearing communities across the Niger Delta, argued that Tompolo’s dual role as both pipeline protector and alleged beneficiary of an oil well creates an unacceptable conflict.
“At the heart of this scandal is the disturbing fact that the very man entrusted with protecting Nigeria’s oil pipelines and facilities is himself allegedly linked to ownership of an oil well – PPL 213 at Ogbanabou field, through connections involving Kalm Marine,” the letter stated.
The group drew a sharp analogy to highlight the perceived absurdity of the situation: “How can the fox be trusted to secure the henhouse when it owns part of the poultry business?”
According to the coalition, this conflict has allegedly enabled covert compromises in surveillance efforts to favour personal and business interests.
They further claimed that the oil well linked to Tompolo has been used to under-declare production outputs, with undeclared portions allegedly diverted to illegal oil bunkering and sold to partners and cronies.
“Such an arrangement amounts to economic sabotage against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the long-suffering people of the Niger Delta,” the statement read.
The letter also criticised the contract for concentrating enormous power and funds in the hands of a single individual and his network, creating what it described as a dangerous monopoly that sidelines broader community participation and genuine stakeholders.
Despite billions of naira spent monthly, the coalition said oil theft, illegal bunkering, and pipeline vandalism persist, while host communities continue to suffer environmental degradation and exclusion.
The group further alleged links between the oil well and several former top government officials, including immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum, H.E. Timipre Sylva, former Group Managing Director/CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, and immediate past Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe.
The statement claimed that some of these individuals have used proceeds from the Tantita contract and the oil well to allegedly sponsor efforts aimed at the violent overthrow of President Tinubu’s government, warning that any renewal of the contract would amount to rewarding those determined to remove him from office through undemocratic means.
The coalition urged President Tinubu to act without delay by directing the immediate termination or non-renewal of the Tantita contract, ordering a comprehensive forensic audit of all expenditures and performance, and convening a broad-based Niger Delta Security Summit to design a truly inclusive, transparent, and sustainable surveillance framework involving multiple ethnic nationalities and local groups.
“The eyes of the region and the entire nation are on you, Mr. President,” the letter concluded.
“History will judge whether you stood on the side of entrenched interests or chose the path of bold reform needed to secure our oil assets for the benefit of all Nigerians.”
The group expressed its readiness for further engagement and reiterated its support for any genuine effort toward lasting peace, equity, and development in the Niger Delta region.
