Niger Delta militants at loggerheads over awarding of pipeline protection contract to Tompolo

NIGER Delta militants remain at loggerheads over the recent awarding of a pipeline protection contract to Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (Mend) leader Government Ekpemupolo popularly known as Tompolo.

Last month, Tompolo was 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 then, Tompolo was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as he was due to face charges relating to contracts he was awarded by the government of former president Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

After the Buhari administration declared him a wanted man, Tompolo 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.

 Over recent months, oil theft has become such a serious problem that Nigeria's crude output has fallen from its historic level of 2.5m barrels a day to below 1m barrels. However, the awarding of  the N4.5bn ($10.48m) monthly pipeline surveillance contract to Tompolo has not proved popular with other Niger Delta leaders.

Already, the Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF) leader Alhaji Asari Dokubo has complained that Tompolo bluntly refused to involve him and other ex-militant leaders in a $144m coastal protection contract ex-President Goodluck Jonathan gave to all of them during his tenure. Also, Niger Delta activist and Itsekiri leader, Chief Rita-Lori Ogbebor, warned the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, withdraw the pipeline contract awarded to Tompolo, describing it as invitation to anarchy.

Ina  further sign if discord, former Mend commander Victor-Ben Ebikabowei, popularly known as Boyloaf, has lashed out at Alhaji Dokubo over his recent outburst against Tompolo. Boyloaf, who spoke for other ex-militant leaders had said the attack is unacceptable and unexpected of a leader of Asari's calibre.

Meanwhile, the Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative urged the federal government to disregard the call by Chief Lori-Ogbebor to revoke the pipeline surveillance contract awarded Tompolo. Immediately the contract was awarded, the Ibeno Men's Development Association, representing the youth in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, warned Tompolo not to venture into its territory.