Ex-militant, Tompolo wins multi-million dollar contract to curb oil theft

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, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.

It was gathered that the government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation 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 N4 billion monthly.

As reported by The Nation, 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 administration of former 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.

“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,” the source said.

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.

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.