Oil Theft: Reps Meet Tompolo, Support Him N48 Billion Pipeline Surveillance Contract

The government's pipeline surveillance contract with Tantita Security Service Nigeria Ltd, a business owned by Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, a former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), has received support from a delegation of the House of Representatives.

As part of the three-day monitoring visit to the creeks and riverine areas of Delta State, the 24-member team was led by the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Peter Akpatason (APC, Edo).

To stop widespread oil theft in the area, the federal government in August granted Ekpemupolo's company a pipeline surveillance contract allegedly worth N48 billion annually (N4 billion monthly).

Despite the controversy surrounding the deal, the business is said to have found a number of unauthorised connections to significant pipelines.

The company reportedly found at least 58 unlawful connections in the states of Delta and Bayelsa.

Oil output was down to less than one million barrels per day as a result of the extensive oil theft in the streams.

NNPCL, on the other hand, recently asserted that daily production has climbed to 1.

From 937, 000 barrels per day recorded in September to 6 million barrels per day.

Speaking at the conference in Warri, Akpatason praised Tantita Security Service for its efforts to combat oil theft in the area, saying that the surveillance of offshore platforms needs to be expanded.

He declared that the House is open to the idea of considering legislation to support the business.

He asserts that increased production will aid in addressing the nation's financial crisis.

“As a result of the recent partnership between Tantita, your company and NNPC, we have seen significant improvement in the ability of this country to produce hydrocarbons which basically is the major foreign earning for this country.

“As concerned citizens, we believe whatever that can be done to ensure improvement in the nation’s capacity to earn income for funding development, and reducing borrowing which has become a thing of concern to many Nigerians, that effort must be supported,” he said.

"There is still more to be done but if we can do what we are presently seeing in this area, also in the offshore, Nigeria won't need to borrow money to support the budget or to borrow money to fund projects that our country so desperately needs."

The deputy majority leader advised security officers to cease destroying equipment recovered from vandals and instead put it to good use when speaking about the activities of security authorities in the area.

Julius Pondi (PDP, Delta), a different delegation member, informed his colleagues that the region's instability had an impact on people's economic operations.

Oil theft in the area must be stopped, according to Pondi, who represents Delta State's Burutu Federal Constituency.

He praised the military personnel for their efforts in the area.

“I am a riverine boy. If you have been here some two months or three months ago, prior to Tantita coming to play, you will know what I am about to say – the degradation that we suffered, the spill, the aquatic damage, no farming, and no fishing. But just within three months, we have seen a clean environment.

"That shows it’s a departure from what it used to be. So, we are making progress.

“The overall goal is that we ensure that Nigerian crude improves by way of production, so we are happy that that has been achieved.

"And if you ask me again, we are making progress,” Pondi said.

Ekpemupolo, in his brief remarks, assured the lawmakers of collaboration to end oil theft in the region.

“I want to thank all of you very well for coming.

"I will not disappoint you. We will do our part and I still want all of you to do your own part over there,” he urged.

In his concluding remarks, Musa Sarkin-Adar (APC, Sokoto), the chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), reaffirmed that the current "cooperation will aid in overcoming numerous issues of oil theft in the oil business, especially in this region of the country."

Mayowa Akinfolarin (APC, Ondo), Uzoma Abonta (PDP, Abia), Sergius Ogun (PDP, Edo), and Boma Goodhead are a few of the delegation's members (PDP, Rivers).