Niger Delta militant Tompolo awarded oil pipeline protection contract as government forced to combat bunkering

NIGER Delta militant leader Government Ekpemupolo popularly known as Tompolo has surprisingly been awarded a contract by the federal government to protect oil pipelines in a dramatic reversal of policy that had seen him declared a wanted man.

Up until now, Tompolo was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as he was due to face charges relating to pipeline protection contracts he was awarded by the government of former president Dr Goodluck Jonathan. Tompolo, the commander of the defunct Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (Mend), subsequently went into hiding to avoid arrest from the government.

However, in a bid to avoid an escalation of violence on the Niger Delta, the federal government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) agreed to engage Tompolo to end illegal bunkering, illegal refining and oil theft in the area. This development represents a reversal of the initial stance which saw the cancellation of the contract awarded by the Jonathan administration after President Buhari assumed office in 2015.

One source close to Tompolo said that the current deal is worth over N4bn monthly. He added: “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. They have realised the need to bring him back because currently, the country is losing over 500,000 barrels per day to illegal bunkering."

This new deal was brokered by the minister of state for petroleum, Timipre Sylva and top NNPC top officials, including the group executive director Adokiye Tombomelye. After the signing of the deal, Tompolo presided over a meeting in his Oporoza home in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, attended by former Ijaw Youths Council presidents Chris Ekiyor, Udengs Eradiri and Eric Omare

Others who attended the meeting were priests of Egbesu, the Ijaw religious organisation, led by Apostle Bodmas Kemepadei and leaders of Niger Delta youth groups and heads of cult groups. Alsop in attendance were Mend commanders Eris Paul, aka General Oguboss; Pius Wareyal, aka General Pius; Joshua Macaiver, Pastor Reuben Wilson and Young Shall Grow.