Report reaching Africa Today News, New York has it that the contract for pipeline surveillance which was recently allotted to the former agitator, Government Ekpemupolo, widely known as Tompolo, has drawn criticism from the Akwa Ibom Ex-Militants’ Forum, who argues that they are exploited by the motion.
This was made knwon in a statement issued to President Muhammadu Buhari and forwarded to security agencies, signed by the Coordinator, Johnson Solomon, and the Secretary, Godwin Edohoaqua.
They claimed in the petition that the awarding of such a contract to a former agitator sectional leader while oil pipelines traverse their land without their consent was the pinnacle of marginalization. Additionally, they mentioned how oil extraction had caused environmental harm in their neighborhoods.
Ex-militants claim that if the federal government doesn’t rescind the pipeline surveillance contract given to Tompolo, oil production in the state will be shuttered in dissent.
Read Also: Tompolo’s Contract: Angry Northern Youths Vow To Occupy NNPC
Africa Today News, New York recalls that last Monday, the Federal Government extended a N4 billion monthly contract with a former Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta leader for the surveillance of oil pipelines (MEND).
The petition demanded that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and the Federal Government cancel their agreement with Tompolo in a bid to appease former Akwa Ibom agitators.
‘In 2015, when President Goodluck Jonathan was about to hand over to President Muhammadu Buhari, ex-militants from Akwa Ibom, in our numbers, protested to the National Assembly against similar contract which did not accommodate us.’’
‘Leadership of the National Assembly with heads of security agencies received our protest letter and assured us that Akwa Ibom ex-militants would be accommodated in future contracts,’ they stated.
Meanwhile, the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM) have lauded Buhari for granting Tompolo the contract in connection with the NNPC.
Dr. Benjamin Tamaranebi, President of HOSTCOM, declared yesterday in Abuja that including the host communities in the safeguarding of the infrastructure will increase the security of Nigeria’s national assets.
He said in his words; ‘We thank President Buhari for the political will and statesmanship in considering Section 257 of the 2021 Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), to award pipelines surveillance contract to our own, who has, among others, the competence and capacity.’
He claims that this will go a long way toward stopping the way Nigeria has been bleeding badly due to oil theft and environmental degradation in oil-producing states, which has resulted in the destruction of livelihoods and the incurable health condition that has taken the lives of many.
He cited Section 257 (2 and 3) of the Constitution, which states that the host community’s annual capital expenditures would be reduced by three percent if any facility or infrastructure is damaged in any community in the accounting year to the extent of the damage, as evidence of the reality of PIA, which may affect the societies.
He either said that: “With the contract awarded to Tompolo, we are confident that all the communities will be involved in the security of their communities and will not be deceived by any man or group of people from outside to cause mayhem to the pipelines.”
“This is one of the best things that has happened to the host communities, to stop the menace of crude oil theft and facilities vandalism that have caused the destruction of critical national assets over the period of time.”
The Akwa Ibom Ex-Militant forum has expressed dissatisfaction following the awarding of Tompolo a contract for pipeline surveillance and has demanded a withdrawal or industrial actions be taken.