A non-governmental organisation in the Niger Delta has called on President Bola Tinubu not to yield to the campaign of calumny against the private firm providing security for the country’s crude oil pipelines across the Niger Delta.
The group, 21st century youths of Niger Delta and agitators with conscience ( 21st CYNDAC) said the high Chief Oweizidei Government Ekpemupolo’s ( Tompolo) security outfit has done greatly to boost the country’s production and earnings since its took responsibility of securing the pipelines.
In apparent reaction to a call made to the new management of the NNPCL, led by Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari to distance itself from the private security managing the country’s oil pipelines, 21st CYNDAC said such a call was made out of jealousy and not for the love of the region and country.
The group in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Izon Ebi said the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services has put paid to the wanton oil theft that characterized the past and the country is better off.
Ebi therefore urged the government and the new leadership of NNPCL to sustain the momentum that has yielded good fruits, especially with the latest downturn in the international market.
The group stated: “We thus use this medium to implore Mr President not to heed the cries and campaign of calumny by fifth columnists and detractors who feel pained that their brigandage has been cut short by the activities of Tantita security services and their illegal oil bunkering activities has been stopped.
“The new board of NNPCL should ignore the merchants of blackmail and propaganda whose gravy train has been permanently stopped.”
The group further charged NNPCL leadership, saying “ The new board of the NNPCL has their work cut out for them, sustaining the momentum in the protection of the critical oil infrastructure and improving crude oil output to 2m+ before the end of the year to mitigate economic downturn because of low oil prices in the international market.”
The group stressed that “Over the years, the hydrocarbon resources of the Niger Delta had been under coordinated attacks, a pillage by non-state actors causing drop in product delivery, this abnormally brought the production capacity of crude oil to about 1.3 barrels per day before the advent of the Present administration.
“The pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services put paid to the wanton oil theft that characterized the past.
“It’s rather unfortunate that instead of applauding this feat, ex beneficiaries of the pillage are jumping from the mainstream media to private podcasts to spew gibberish and trying to distract the govt from what has been statistically proven improved crude oil output through the efforts of Tantita security services under the leadership of high Chief Government Oweizidei Ekpemupolo( Tompolo ).
“The impact of Tompolo in the Niger Delta region is not and only limited to the provision of security to our pipeline and protection of the nations critical hydrocarbon infrastructures but has gone further to the establishment of the Nigerian maritime University Okerenkoko, Building of communities with modern infrastructure, empowering indigent citizens of the Niger Delta through employment, scholarship to students, grants to small and medium scale entrepreneur and various skill acquisition programs both in country and abroad.
“We can boldly claim that their production has increased, the environment and pipelines in the Delta have been safer under the watch of high Chief Tompolo and Tantita Security Services,this can be empirically and statistically ascertained.
“To Jude Gbabayor and his co travellers who made the video circulating in the media, we urge him to desist immediately and tender an unreserved apology to the people of the Niger Delta region to avoid the wrath of the gods and a backlash.
“The reason for the campaign of calumny against high Chief Tompolo , Matthew Tonlagha and Tantita Security Services is born out of jealousy, selfishness, avarice and greed by other so called famished ex militants and local warlords.”
“The federal government should be circumspect about the activities and actions of these charlatans that don’t have capacity and love for the Niger Delta region and its people for any productive endeavor talk less of providing critical security service to our oil and gas infrastructure.
“The government and people must refuse to be hoodwinked by these detractors to evade what was prevalent before president Bola Tinubu ‘s tenure.”
