Alleged Conflict of Interest: Niger Delta Coalition Urges Tinubu to Cancel Pipeline Surveillance Deal

Also Read

 

A coalition of stakeholders in the Niger Delta has called on President Bola Tinubu to terminate the multi-billion naira pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited over allegations of conflict of interest.

The group, Concerned Niger Delta Patriots for Transparency and Resource Justice (CNDPTRJ), made the demand in a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its spokesperson, Comrade Maxwell Efe.

The coalition raised concerns about the involvement of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, who owns Tantita Security Services. It alleged that his role in overseeing pipeline protection while being linked to ownership of an oil well presents a potential conflict of interest.

According to the group, such an arrangement could undermine the effectiveness of surveillance operations by prioritising personal or business interests over national objectives.

The coalition also criticised the structure of the contract, arguing that it concentrates excessive authority and financial resources in the hands of a single individual, thereby excluding broader community participation and other critical stakeholders.

Despite the significant funds reportedly committed to pipeline security, the group noted that oil theft, illegal bunkering, and pipeline vandalism remain prevalent across the region. It added that host communities continue to face environmental degradation and marginalisation.

CNDPTRJ urged the President to order the immediate termination or non-renewal of the contract and to initiate a comprehensive forensic audit of its expenditures and performance.

The group further called for the convening of a Niger Delta Security Summit to develop a more inclusive, transparent, and sustainable surveillance framework that accommodates diverse ethnic groups and local interests.

“The eyes of the region and the entire nation are on the President,” the statement said, urging decisive action to safeguard Nigeria’s oil assets in the interest of all citizens.