Oil syndicates behind smear campaigns against Tompolo -Rights group writes Tinubu

By Sunday Onye, senior correspondent

The Centre for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade (CHURAC) has written to president Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing oil syndicates of behind smear campaigns against High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.

The group said cabal of oil theft who are fighting to topple his government are inciting him to make wrong decisions and policies.

This is according to a statement signed by the group’s BoT chairman, Cleric Ebikonbowei Alaowei, Esq on Friday.

The group, however commended former President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the award of the security contract to private security companies to guide and protect the oil pipelines in the Niger Delta region, adding that the initiative had yielded the desired results in completely riding the region of crude oil thefts.

According to the group, on the performance index, Tantita Security Services Limited that is in charge of the fight against oil theft had inflicted a devastating mayhem on the illegal bunkerers by exposing all the bunkering syndicates in its areas of operations thereby bringing illegal bunkering activities to zero within the central and western corridors of the contract.

The statement which titled, “OIL PIPELINE SURVEILLANCE CONTRACT: OIL SYNDICATES ARE ON THE PROWL; BEWARE OF IDES OF MARCH” said: “We as critical stakeholders in the fight against corruption in every strata of the society, wish to commend former President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the award of the contract to private security companies to guide and protect the oil pipelines in the Niger Delta region. There’s no gainsaying the fact that the initiative has yielded the desired results in completely riding the region of crude oil theft.

“Indeed, the world can attest to the fact that NNPC Limited under the Buhari administration has done the most noble thing by awarding the oil pipeline surveillance contract to private security companies, especially the one awarded to Tantita Security Services Limited. Of course, Nigerians and by extension the global community in the oil sector do expect that you will replicate the gains achieved by your immediate predecessor to renew the contract for the companies that performed credibly well beyond expectations.

“From the available records in your domain, the contract was split into eastern corridor, central corridor and western corridor. Ocean Marine Company secured the contract for the eastern corridor, while Tantita Security Services Limited got the central and western corridors of the contract.

“On the performance index, Tantita Security Services Limited has inflicted a devastating mayhem on the illegal bunkerers by exposing all the bunkering syndicates in its areas of operations thereby bringing illegal bunkering activities to zero within the central and western corridors of the contract.

“For the monster to survive in the glowing illegal business, the cartels have resorted to serial blackmails against some prominent stakeholders in the industry including the former Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Silver, the NNPCL GMD, Mele Kyari, owner of Tantita Security Services Limited, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo amongst other top players.

“We’re not surprised of the series of protest letters, probably coming to your office by these illegal oil bunkering cartels-sponsored naysayers against the renewal of the contract for Tompolo’s Tantita Security Services Limited. Your Excellency, on a critical assessment of Tompolo’s traducers for the renewal of the contract, one cannot say but wonder why only the extra-ordinarily performed part of the contract led by Tantita Security Services is now subject of debates?

“Before the contract was split into three blocs, it was awarded to one company owned by the late Capt. Hosa Osunbor. Just as illegal bunkering activities were in the increase in spite of the contract, nobody ever contested against the award of the said contact to Capt. Hosa. Why the surge of oppositions to the contract awarded to Tompolo’s Company now?

“The answer to the above questions is that the syndicates who are now being affected by Tompolo’s Tantita Security Services Limited’s fight against crude oil thefts are doing everything possible to ensure that the contract should not be awarded to the Company again or alternatively, struggling to split Tompolo’s part of the contract in order for them to safely siphon the crude oil without let or hinderance.

“The benefits Tompolo’s fight against crude oil thefts brought to the oil sector cannot be overemphasized despite the sponsored blackmails. Before the contract was awarded to Tantita Security Services Limited in August 2022, Nigeria’s daily oil production was as low as low as 937,766 million barrels per day(mbp) which she was struggling to meet OPEC quota of 1.8mbp. Regrettably, Nigeria was overtaken by Angola, Algeria, etc as the highest producers of crude oil in Africa.

“Immediately after Tantita Security Services Limited executed the contract, our daily outputs rose to 1.014,485mbp by October 2022, courtesy of Tantita Security Services Limited’s actions in exposing and arresting oil thefts. As at today, Nigeria’s daily productions of crude oil hovers around 1.463mbp. We are happy that Nigeria has overtaken Angola and the rest of our contenders in Africa as the highest producer of crude oil. These victories can only be attributed to Tompolo’s intervention to ward off illegal bunkering activities in the oil sector.

“Some industry players in the oil sector also attributed the successes recorded by the NNPCL to Tompolo’s Company. According to Chinedu Onyegbula, an energy sector expert and director at Bullox Resources Limited attributed the rise in production to the decline in oil thefts because of the steps taken by NNPC Limited and the Tompolo’s contract. Onyegbula also said the return of the Forcados pipeline, which has a 400,000 bpd capacity is a reason for the increase.

“With the milestone achieved by Tompolo’s Company for the nation’s petro-dollar economy, we don’t think it’s wise to sacrifice these successes on the altar of politics. Some blackmailers are sensationally whipping up sentiment by saying that Tompolo didn’t support you in your election. Your Excellency, the 2023 general elections have come and gone save the ongoing judicial processes. You’re now a President for the entire Country and not to a political party or some group of individuals.

“Of course, your primary agenda is to ensure that Nigerians and not a political party enjoy the dividend of democracy under you. Therefore, the award of the contract to Tompolo’s Tantita Security Services Limited once again which is for public good and public safety is the yearnings and aspirations of majority of Nigerians. We in the human rights community which includes environment rights and the anti-corruption crusaders will always partner with the government and the private security company to ensure that our environments are secured by completely eradicate oil saboteurs of any kind and to prosecute the culprits arrested.

“Gleaned from above, we plead with you to renew the contract for the oil pipeline surveillance to Tompolo’s Company once again. Now that the Country is about to beat the OPEC quota, we must not make the mistake of allowing the oil thefts to return to field. Without prejudice to the abilities of the other applicants, it’s our belief and conviction that only Tompolo’s Tantita Security Services Limited can execute the contract to make Nigeria recover her lost glories in the oil sector”, the group added.