RTEAN Chairman Kporoh Calls On Tinubu to Sustain Tompolo’s Tantita Pipeline Surveillance Contract.

By Henry Ubus.

The Delta State Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and Senior Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Security, Comrade Elvis Kporoh, has publicly defended pipeline surveillance contractor, Government Ekpemupolo, amid ongoing debates over the management of oil pipeline security in the Niger Delta.

In a video message currently circulating on social media, Kporoh appealed to Nigerians to share the message widely so it can reach President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging the President to carefully review the controversy surrounding the pipeline surveillance contract handled by Tompolo.

Kporoh explained that although he is not usually inclined to make public video statements he felt compelled to speak due to what he described as misinformation and sustained attacks against the current pipeline protection arrangement.

According to him, previous efforts by various security agencies, including the military failed to effectively curb crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region. He noted that before the present Tantita surveillance framework was introduced, the region’s waterways were plagued by widespread oil theft, pipeline sabotage, and environmental pollution.

However, Kporoh maintained that since Tompolo assumed responsibility for the surveillance contract through Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited several years ago, there has been a significant reduction in pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft across the Niger Delta.

“I can boldly say that since Tompolo took over the pipeline surveillance about four or five years ago, incidents of oil theft and pipeline vandalization have drastically reduced in the Niger Delta waterways,” Kporoh stated.

He further argued that improved protection of oil facilities has contributed to increased crude oil production, which has positively impacted government revenue and strengthened federal allocations to states.

Kporoh also said security in the riverine areas has improved considerably, noting that incidents of sea piracy and armed robbery have declined significantly due to enhanced surveillance operations and the engagement of youths from host communities in pipeline protection activities.

According to him, thousands of youths from oil-bearing communities have been employed under the surveillance arrangement, thereby reducing unemployment and criminal activities in the Niger Delta.

He alleged that some individuals opposing Tompolo’s role in pipeline surveillance may be doing so because the contractor has refused to compromise with illegal operators seeking access to pipelines.

“These attacks are coming because Tompolo is not compromising. Some people want him to allow them access to the pipelines, but he has refused,” he said.

Kporoh therefore urged President Tinubu to rely on verified information and the current improvements recorded in oil facility protection when taking decisions regarding the future of the surveillance contract.

While acknowledging that no individual should permanently hold such a responsibility, he emphasized that Tompolo currently remains the most suitable person to oversee pipeline surveillance operations in the region.

He concluded by calling on stakeholders to allow the existing arrangement to continue without unnecessary distractions, stressing that stability in the Niger Delta is critical to Nigeria’s oil production and overall economic growth.