A group of Arewa Youths protested on Monday at the headquarters of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in Abuja, demanding the cancellation of the Pipeline Surveillance Contract awarded to Tantita Security, which is owned by the government of Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
The placard-carrying demonstrators ignored the presence of security officers stationed at the facility, calling on President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to take prudence in renewing the contract in light of the contract’s history of wanton financial wrongdoing.
The pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tompolo has been a subject of controversy and debate since its inception. The contract aimed to employ ex-militants to safeguard oil and gas pipelines in the Niger Delta, a region plagued by pipeline vandalism, oil theft, and environmental degradation. While the contract was originally conceived as a strategy for peace and development in the Niger Delta, it has faced criticism for its execution and impact.
The President, of Arewa Youth Congress, Comrade Musa Adebayo, who read the statement jointly signed by the President, of Northern Youth Advocacy for Good Governance Initiative, Comrade Usman Saidu, said there was no significant rise in the oil production quantum since the contract was awarded to Tompolo, adding that the successes being celebrated were normal production rates before the mayhem of the Niger Delta Avengers.
The Arewa Youths, representing the interests of the Northern region, have raised several concerns regarding the Tompolo pipeline surveillance contract. Their grievances include allegations of corruption, mismanagement of funds, and a lack of transparency in the contract’s execution. These concerns have fueled apprehension about whether the contract genuinely serves the interests of the Nigerian people and the nation’s economy.
At the heart of the Arewa Youths’ demand is a call for transparency and accountability in the management of Nigeria’s oil and gas resources. Oil revenue plays a pivotal role in the nation’s economy, and any allegations of corruption or mismanagement must be thoroughly investigated and addressed. The youth’s demand for the cancellation of the Tompolo contract is a plea for a fair and equitable use of these resources.
