Tag: Tompolo

Niger Delta leader and Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Tantita Security Services Limited, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, has backed the Nigerian National Petroleum Limited’s target of 2m barrels per day of crude oil by the end of 2024.

The NNPCL recently announced that crude oil production hit a recent high of 1.8mbpd in October (rising from 1.2mbpd at the start of 2024), promising to hit 2mbpd by the end of 2024.

Reacting to the lofty goal by NNPCL on Saturday, Ekpemupolo, whose TSSL is playing a key role in the oil and gas sector resurgence through pipeline and oil installations security, said the directive was one that it is determined to achieve.

Speaking through Media and Public Communication consultant, Dr Paul Bebenimibo, Tompolo said: “This milestone, as you know, was achieved in collaboration with NNPCL, security forces and of course, Tantita, which has been at the forefront of oil pipelines protection in the Niger Delta.

“We are determined to take it to 2mbpd before the year runs out as directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“All the needed machinery has been put in place to ensure that the target is achieved. No effort will be spared to ensure that the economy of Nigeria is galvanised.

Read Also: Stop planned protest, Tompolo tells organisers

“This will lead to a boost in the government’s revenue, thereby making more funds available for the President and his team to run the country effectively. I am assuring you that we are not going to rest on our oars until the target is achieved and even exceeded.

“New technologies were being deployed to monitor the facilities to ensure that there won’t be any disruption and that the theft of Nigeria’s commonwealth is halted.

“So the 1.8mbpd that it has got to, certainly by the end of the year, by God’s grace, we will work to get it to 2mbpd and even exceed. We are working towards that.”

Excited by what it called contributions to national development, the Ijaw People’s Association (IPA) of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom (UK), has honoured the Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (also known as Tompolo).

IPA, led by its president, Francis Akpanari and the general secretary, Benaebi Oguoko showered encomiums Ekpemupolo at the association’s 76th anniversary and the 2024 Ijaw Day Celebration and Awards Night held at the Kervan Banqueting Suite in London.

The group described Ekpemupolo as “a treasure to the Ijaw nation,” adding that he was not only an astute entrepreneur and businessman, but a large-hearted social transformer who had brought pride and dignity to the Ijaw.

Leaders of the IPA stressed that Ekpemupolo had contributed very much to the socio-economic and political advancement of the Ijaw.

They said he had also made great personal sacrifices at critical times for the general good of the Niger Delta.

The Ijaw people noted that Tompolo had transformed the lives of numerous young and old people in diverse ways over the years as a philanthropist.

The IPA bestowed the prestigious lifetime award of “Izon-Ebi Dou Keme” (meaning, a leader who wants the progress of the Ijaw nation) on Ekpemupolo.

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The group also honoured him with a “Certificate of Appreciation and Recognition” for his selfless services and sustained contributions to the growth and development of the Ijaw.

It said: “You have sacrificed yourself for the survival and success of Ijaw nation, and also transformed the lives of thousands of young people and others directly and indirectly.

“We bestow on you High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo this well-considered award of ‘Izon-Ebi Dou Keme’, as well as a Certificate of Appreciation and Recognition. You are indeed a social transformer sent by God to transform Ijaw nation for the better.”

Receiving the award, Ekpemupolo, who was represented by a  former legislator in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Chief Macdonald Igbadiwei, thanked  the IPA in Great Britain and Ireland for the honour.

He said the recognition would motivate him to render more selfless service to the Ijaw nation, because of his belief in the traditional heritage, good and development of his people.

Niger Delta leader and Chairman, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, has appealed to the organisers of the proposed ‘Hardship Strike’ to listen to well-meaning Nigerians’ call to shelve the action.

While conceding to citizens’ right to protest, Ekpemupolo, Alias Tompolo, noted that the ongoing hardship in the country did not start from the past year of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stressing that it was long in the making.

He said: “I wish to add my voice to all well-meaning Nigerians, including our revered traditional rulers, on the call to shelve the proposed hardship protest billed to start on August 1, 2024.

“It is true that there is hunger and hardship in the country. However, it must be pointed out that hunger and hardship did not start today.

Read Also: Nigeria leads African oil production with 1.61mbpd

“President Tinubu is working hard to revamp the economy with well-thought-out policies and programmes in addressing the issues of the economy and security, which are the basis of other problems in the country.

“I am aware of Mr. President’s efforts to get things right in the country, and truly things are getting better. For instance, there has been a great improvement in the oil and gas sector in the last year, which is still the main source of our economy.”

I am aware of the right of the citizenry to protest government policies and programmes in any country. It is one sure way for the citizens to participate effectively in governance, by checking the excesses of any government.

“However, the organizers must know that the timing is wrong; the protest may cause more harm than good, as security reports have indicated that the protest will be hijacked by unscrupulous elements.

“Against this background, I have joined other Patriotic Nigerians to appeal to prospective protesters to call off the proposed protest and engage governments at all levels to find lasting solutions to the country’s problems. You must agree that the threat of protest only has achieved its aim, as Mr. President has said loud and clear, that he has heard the voices of prospective protesters.

After all, it is better to jaw-jaw than to war-war.”

•  …as APC youths commend ex-freedom fighter for protecting oil pipelines

Former freedom fighter and chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), High Chief Government Ekpemupolo a k.a Tompolo, has tasked Nigerian youths to join President Bola Tinubu in salvaging the nation.

Tompolo spoke when the All Progressives Congress (APC) national youth wing presented him awards for safeguarding critical national assets, as well as empowering youths across the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.

Expressing gratitude to the APC youths for the recognition, Tompolo said: “I thank all of you very much for leaving your various places and traveling to Oporoza here. It’s not an easy task. I believe you would have read in different newspapers that Tompolo is fighting illegal bunkering. Yes, crude oil is the only source of survival in this country, and 90 percent of our people, in one way or the other, are involved in illegal bunkering. 

“So, I admonish our people, especially the youths wing to stand firm with Mr. President and join those who are doing the right thing to salvage our country.”

Earlier, the APC youths commended the Tantita boss for the achievements recorded in the crude oil pipeline surveillance across the oil-rich region, just as they presented awards of excellence to him.

Read Also: Tompolo mourns ex-Education Minister, Gbagi

They explained that the presentation of awards to Tompolo stemmed from services rendered through his organization, TSSNL, to the nation by combatting crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

The group also recognized him for not just empowering the youths in the Ijaw nation, but Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.

The National Youth Wing of the party comprising leaders at the national, zonal, state, and ward levels was part of the entourage.

One of the youth leaders, Hon. Jamaluddeen Kabir said: “We recognised him based on the fact that he is empowering the youths, not just Ijaw nation, but all over the country. We’re living testimony of this. 

“We, therefore expect him to continue to support the youths and partner with APC Youth Wing down to the grassroots.”

Also speaking, APC Southwest youth leader, Comrade Lawal Paff, stated that Tompolo has made the country proud by helping the government to secure the pipelines, an act that has improved internally generated revenue.

He further enjoined youths in the area to partner with Tompolo’s security outfit in improving Nigeria’s oil production.

He said: “I am calling on our youths to take advantage of what Tompolo is doing and work with him to make the country great. Always think of what you can do for Nigeria, as a nation, and not what Nigeria can do for you.”

Ex-Niger Delta freedom fighter, Chief Dr. Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo, has mourned the passage of former education minister, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, stating that his death was sudden and untimely.

Tompolo, who spoke through his media consultant, Dr. Paul Bebenimibo, during a condolence visit to the family of the deceased at Oginibo, Ughelli South council area of Delta state, said the death of the 2023 Delta governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was shocking.

Read Also: Itsekiri disown video of purported protest against Tompolo, Tantita

He described the deceased as a man who placed the interest of others above his, noting that the late business mogul and criminologist had good intentions for the development of the State and Nigeria, at large.

“He was strict and a disciplinarian, but was misunderstood by a section of the society. He came, saw, and left quietly. Indeed, God gave and it was God that allowed him to go and rest at this time. We will surely miss him,” he said.

Tompolo further told the family members to take solace in the fact that their late father, brother, and grandfather did his best for God and mankind before his death.

Responding on behalf of the family, Egba, one of late Gbagi’s sons, thanked Tompolo for finding time to visit the family in their trying time.

Itsekiri personnel of the Tantita Security Services Limited on Friday debunked a viral video where some persons were seen protesting against High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo  and his security outfit, claiming that Itsekiri people have not been employed in the firm.

The Tantita beneficiaries of Itsekiri extraction had gathered at Ugbodede Community, in Warri South Local Government Area, of Delta State to counter the viral video during a press briefing on Friday.

Fidelis Lori, Coordinator of Obodo, Opumami Cluster, and six other communities asserted that several Itsekiri indigenes have ongoing paid employment with Tantita Security Services Limited.

“We have a contract with Tantita Security Services Limited. We have those that are employed directly by Tantita Security Services and by the grace of God, most of our coordinators are here.

“We are here to tell the general public that whatever they were saying was indeed misleading. Itsekiri communities to the best of our knowledge have been carried along.

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“We’ve looked into that video closely, and in analysing it, we discovered that those that are involved in the purported protest are not Itsekiri indigenes. These impersonators they’re not from our communities. The people you are seeing here now are the people representing Itsekiri communities.

“In my cluster, where I happen to be the coordinator, I have about 135 job slots, it’s already ongoing and payment is prompt,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Engr. Samson Uwatse, Coordinator of Tantita, Ugbodede Unit, covering routes along Warri rivers maintained that Tantita Security has touched so many lives in the Itsekiri region.

“We have employees in Ugbodede Community as a whole. In this community, we have women employees, elders, and youths who are partaking in Tantita Security Services, and they all have been paid every month.

“So, with all these, I want to inform the entire nation that those people that are saying that Tompolo and Tantita are not carrying Itsekiri along are liars as the Tantita office is doing well in fighting oil theft in the nation. We the Itsekiris are here to support it fully,” Uwatse stated.

Another Tantita beneficiary, Kuyatsemi Collins and others, condemned those behind the viral videos, stressing that they are not happy with the false and mischievous accusation, that Tantita is not  giving attention to Itsekiri people.

He noted that they were at the press conference “to say that it’s not true.”

The apex Ijaw youths’ body, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, has described a foremost ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, as a harbinger of hope and development of the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.

In a statement by the national spokesman for the group, Amb. Binebai Princewill, to commemorate the birth anniversary of Tompolo, the IYC said the renowned Niger Delta and Ijaw leader had paid his dues for the economic and political survival of the people of Ijaw nation and the region.

Princewill said the entire Ijaw nation is proud of Tompolo as their highly revered leader owing to his sacrifices in the struggle to emancipate his people. 

The spokesman said through his company, Tantita Security Services, Tompolo had played a crucial role in securing crude oil pipelines, thereby preventing oil theft and sabotage. 

He said: “We are very lucky to have Tompolo in this present era of our nascent movement for resource control.

“Tompolo’s leadership has been marked by unwavering dedication, resilience, and a commitment to the betterment of our communities. His vision for a prosperous and empowered Niger Delta has inspired countless youths to actively participate in the struggle for justice and equity.

“Notably, Tompolo has made significant contributions to national peace through his selfless sacrifice and tireless efforts in advocating for the rights of the Niger Delta people. 

Read Also: Tompolo debunks placing advertorials celebrating President Tinubu at 72

“His unwavering commitment to dialogue and peaceful resolution of conflicts has played a pivotal role in fostering harmony and stability in the region and Nigeria at large. 

“Furthermore, Tompolo’s exemplary leadership has been recognized and honoured by reputable organizations and citadels of learning. He has been bestowed with numerous awards and honorary doctorates in recognition of his outstanding contributions to society and his relentless pursuit of justice and equity.”

He also said that Tompolo’s dedication and hard work had contributed to the economic progress of  Nigeria, ensuring a more sustainable future for generations to come, as the hitherto dead aquatic life had been restored.