Follow Us on Google
From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
There is palpable anxiety in the Niger Delta region following the current status of Tantita security company as regards the multi- billion-naira oil pipeline surveillance contract being handled on behalf of the Federal Government.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) had in 2022 awarded the mouth-watering contract to Tantita which is owned by ex-leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Government Ekpemopolo.
Tantita operations covers protection and surveillance of oil pipelines Delta, Ondo, Bayelsa and Rivers State
NNPCL Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari had justified the award of the contract to Tompolo on the need to hire private contractors to man oil pipelines across the country to curb crude oil theft.
However, there have been pressures from other ex-militant leaders and stakeholders calling for a review and decentralization of the contract to include more people.
Other ex-militant leaders who are currently waging a cold war with Tompolo are in the fore-front for the decentralization of the contract to ensure Tompolo is restricted only to Delta states while other ex-leaders are allowed to supervise the contract in their own states.
The contract which was first awarded for a year was renewed for three months recently and pressure has been intense for its review.
Investigations revealed that barring any last-minute change of plans, the contract will be decentralized to accommodate more people in Ondo, Bayelsa and Rivers States while Tompolo would be given control for oil pipelines in Delta and Edo States.
Sources said it was in preparation for the new status of the contract that forced Tantita security company to disengage all its staff in Bayelsa recently.
The company while disengaging the staff had assured them of the payment of backlog of salaries and a promise that fresh recruitment which would accommodate more people will be carried out soon.
Sources in the Ministry of Petroleum said the final details of the contract from the NNPLC has been vetted for onward delivery to the President.
Another source which said the decentralization has political undertones because of the need to create new foot soldiers ahead of 2027 elections said it would benefit chieftains of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
A top member of Tantita in Bayelsa State who craved anonymity said there is nothing unusual about the disengagement of Tantita security staff.
According to him phase one of the project has ended which necessitated the disengagement of staff and the company is preparing for phase two which would require some of them to be rehired.
