Ex-Militant Leaders Demand Review of Multi-Million Dollar Surveillance Contract in Niger Delta, Nigeria

Disgruntled ex-militant leaders from the Niger Delta region have called for a review of a multi-million dollar surveillance contract awarded to former leader High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo. These leaders argue that the contract should be limited to only the state of origin, Delta, and shouldn’t include other states in the region such as Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Edo, Ondo, and Rivers. They believe that the contract has been monopolized by Tompolo and the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III. The ex-militant leaders are urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to review the nation’s crude oil production and export numbers between August 2022 and August 2023. They claim that while the federal government was paying over $1.3 billion for pipeline surveillance to three individuals in Delta state, the nation’s crude oil production and export numbers decreased. They also suspect that the contract extension was approved to provide funding for political actors in the November 11th Bayelsa election. The ex-militant leaders are advocating for a decentralization of the surveillance contract to include ex-militant leaders from different states in the Niger Delta region. Furthermore, they have alerted security agencies in Abuja about a planned protest by some individuals affiliated with Tantita Security Services, owned by Tompolo, to pressure President Tinubu into renewing the contract. The ex-militant leaders believe that the protest and arrest of four Tantita Security Services personnel signal a high level of intolerance and desperation. They claim that these individuals are mounting pressure on President Tinubu to renew the contract to coincide with the funding needed for the Bayelsa governorship elections. The ex-militant leaders are calling for an investigation into an attempted crude oil theft at Lekki Waters, where four men employed by Tantita Security Services were arrested by the Nigerian Navy. Residents of the area reported gunshots from the waterside, prompting their arrest. The ex-militant leaders urge the Nigerian Navy and the federal government to thoroughly investigate this incident. Overall, the ex-militant leaders assert that the surveillance contract should be reviewed and decentralized to reputable ex-militant leaders from different states in the Niger Delta region to effectively combat crude oil theft and boost oil production. They advise President Tinubu to proceed cautiously and consider the best interests of his administration when renewing the contract.