Niger Delta group warns Arewa youths to beware of Tompolo over unguided statements

Niger Delta group warns Arewa youths to beware of Tompolo over unguided statements

...Urges president Tinubu to renew contract with Tantita

...Says stolen crude is stored in the North, hence the protest

Warri _____ A revered group operating under the auspices of Niger Delta Defenders has cautioned the Northern Youth Advocacy for Good Governance Initiative and Arewa Youth Forum to be careful with their words against High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpomupolo, popularly known as Tompolo and the Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited on the issue of Pipeline Surveillance Security contract renewal. 

The group gave the warning on Tuesday in Warri via a press statement personally signed by Comr. John Gbozimor, President of the Niger Delta Defenders (NDD), stated that Arewa Youth Forum and Northern Youths have no business on protesting or commenting about Niger Delta issues.

Comr. John Gbozimor had particularly called on President Bola Tinubu to ignore the Northern Youth Advocacy for Good Governance Initiative and Arewa Youth Forum, stressing that their utterances against Tompolo and the Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited is enough to cause tension in the country as the region will not seat and watch misguided elements coming to insult their father with false allegations. 

However, the group had called on President Bola Tinubu to enter a fresh contract renewal deal with the Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, adding that Tompolo is the only man In Niger Delta that can do the job perfectly at the moment. 

President of Niger Delta Defenders,  John Gbozimor asserted that the drastic improvement of the oil and gas revenue in the country since Tompolo’s Tantita Security Services took over the surveillance contract last year speaks volume about his capability. 

Nevertheless, the group said it is aware that corruption in the oil sector  is fighting back,  stating that the group of Northern and Arewa Youths are fighting because the stolen crude is being stored in the Northern part of the country hence they are hired and sponsored to attack the excellent job done by Tompolo via the Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited as they are trying by all means to under score and under report Tompolo and the Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited wonderful job in curbing oil theft in the Niger Delta. 

"A point must be made known that the Arewa Youth Forum and Northern Youths have no business on protesting or commenting about Niger Delta issues. 

"Tompolo is a pure and stainless hero to the Niger Delta region and Nigeria at large, we will not allow disrespectful children to tarnish his hard earned reputation. Enough is enough " Niger Delta Defenders warned.

Sylvester Congratulates Oromoni on Appointment as Special Adviser, Salutes Gov. Oborevwori

Sylvester Congratulates Oromoni on Appointment as Special Adviser, Salutes Gov. Oborevwori  

Warri _______  A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, Chief. Sylvester Tiebebedigha (JP), the Doumien-Owei (Peace Maker) of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom, has congratulated Hon. Sylvester Oromoni, the immediate past Chairman Delta State Taskforce on Environment, on his new appointment as Special Adviser to His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the Executive Governor of Delta State.

Chief Tiebebedigha in a statement released on Tuesday at Ogbe-ljoh, headquarters of Warri South-West LGA, described his boss, Hon. Sylvester Oromoni's appointment as a well deserved one, saying his selfless contributions to the PDP family and the 2023 Delta State Gubernatorial election cannot be over emphasized.

He noted that Chief. Oromoni is a patriotic Deltan who had served the state excellently in different capacity over the past years, stressing that his new assignment will speed up the  implementation process of the M.O.R.E. AGENDA of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to all Deltans in the shortest possible time.

Meanwhile, Chief. Tiebebedigha also appreciated His Excellency, Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori in finding Oromoni worthy for the appointment, adding that he will effectively deliver on the new assignment given to him. 

He pray God to protect and give Oromoni the wisdom to advise the Governor rightly in order  to serve Deltans well, the statement added.

Otuaro Writes President Tinubu, Appeals for Tantita Contract Renewal

Otuaro Writes President Tinubu, Appeals for Tantita Contract Renewal 

AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR, ON THE CAMPAIGNS FOR AND AGAINST THE RENEWAL OF THE CONTRACT FOR TANTITA SECURITY SERVICES LTD IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRUDE OIL THEFT, AND OIL PIPELINE VANDALISM IN THE NIGER DELTA

 

Through:

Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori,

The Governor,

Delta State,

Government House,

Asaba.

 

Dear Mr. President Sir,

A PLEA FOR THE RENEWAL OF CONTRACT FOR TANTITA SECURITY SERVICES LTD TO REINFORCE OUR CONFIDENCE IN YOUR MANTRA OF ‘RENEWED HOPE’ IN THE ECONOMY

 

Your Excellency Sir, the news media has been lately awash with calls on your office to consider the propriety or otherwise of the renewal of the contract for Tantita Security Services Limited, a company allegedly owned by Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, contracted to secure national oil and gas assets and fight the thieving of crude oil with the NNPCL and Nigerian Security Agencies in the Niger Delta.

 I am constrained to write this open letter to your office as the immediate past Deputy Governor of Delta State with substantial knowledge of the menace of crude oil theft and vandalism of its infrastructure on one hand, and as a native of Okerenkoko and Obotobo Communities in Warri South West and Burutu Local Government Areas of Delta State that are amongst other communities, the host to the trans-Escravos pipeline and the 200km trans-Forcados pipeline, respectively. 

The latter is the second largest pipeline in the Niger Delta Region that evacuates crude oil from the Western Delta to the Forcados oil export terminal with an export capacity of 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day. I am worried because Nigeria undoubtedly is a mono-economy that is majorly reliant on crude oil and gas receipts.

 Our national and sub-national governments’ budgets, almost always have been tripodal on crude oil and gas sales, tax receipts that are inextricably linked to the oil and gas subsidiary investments, and external and internal borrowings.

Thus, any shock in the sector, whether man-made or natural cause, adversely impacts the economy. This is the more reason the Presidency must be circumspect, and cannot afford to make an error of judgment in the ongoing campaign of calumny and divisiveness against the partners in progress; Tantita Security Services Ltd, the NNPCL and the Nigerian Navy, in their patriotic fight against the syndicated criminal activities of crude oil theft and vandalism of its infrastructure. 

After all, it is a notorious fact that the fight against the menace of oil theft, and the destruction of national oil and gas assets has already made tremendous progress. If so,  why the ridiculous and untenable ‘hue and cry’ to change a winning team? 

It is important that our budding confidence in your mantra of ‘Renewed Hope’ should be kept alive as the economically impoverished citizenry battles for survival amidst the hardship occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal.

The aftermath of the 2015 general election which brought in your predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari into office witnessed unprecedented and successive breaches of critical oil and gas facilities including the famous trans-Forcados delivery pipeline on the 27th May 2016, and that amongst other factors accounted for the country being plunged into recessionary times as there was a drastic drop in crude oil production and a dip in its price in the international market to an all-time low 24 dollars per barrel. 

Responsively, the then Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa-led government of Delta State constituted the Delta State Advocacy Committee Against Oil Assets Destruction and I became Chairman of the committee. No sooner was the inauguration of the committee, we hit the creeks of the oil-producing communities by embarking on aggressive advocacy campaigns against oil assets destruction. 

The Committee went to the oil-producing communities in the Benin River and its tributaries that opened up into some communities in Edo and Ondo states. We traversed the oil-producing communities along the famous Escravos and Forcados Rivers in Delta state and further down to the oil-producing communities at the Delta and Bayelsa fringes of the Ramos River.

Your Excellency, the Presidency invited me to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to help articulate the issues underscoring the resurgence of violent attacks on national oil and gas assets as well as producing a blueprint for a Presidential visit to states in the Niger Delta.

 I was further co-opted as an individual from the Niger Delta States to attend the Inter-Ministerial Committee meetings on the Niger Delta headed by the former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo. The government saddled the Committee with the avowed responsibility of addressing topical issues concerning the Niger Delta such as the then ongoing unrest in the region, the Ogoni clean-up, and the Nigerian Maritime Okerenkoko, to mention but a few.

Your Excellency, it suffices to say that I was in no small measure involved in working out the details and itinerary of the Presidential visit to the various states in the region headed by the former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo and assisted by the former Minister for State Petroleum, and former Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu. It began on the 16th of January, 2017 in Delta State, and in other states in the region. 

It is very important to state currently, that one of the conscientious outcomes of the Presidential visit to the region was the procurement of the services of the Tantita Security Services Limited to partner with the Nigerian Navy and NNPCL to intensify the fight against crude oil theft and secure national oil and gas assets from destruction.

Having the capability and profound understanding to handle the complexities and sophistication that characterize the syndicated criminal activities of oil theft, oil assets vandalism, and mitigation of environmental despoliation in the region, Tantita Security Services Limited is a square peg in a square hole.

Please accept the assurances of my highest regard.

Yours sincerely,

 Dcn. Kingsley Otuaro Esq.

Immediate Past Deputy Governor of Delta State.

FLOOD: Delta Govt Sets Up 14-Man 2023 Flood Mgt Committee

FLOOD: Delta Govt Sets Up 14-Man 2023 Flood Mgt Committee  

Asaba _____ The Delta State Government has constituted a 14-man 2023 Flood Disaster Management Committee. 

Inaugurating the Committee on Tuesday in Asaba, Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu, charged members to ensure sensitization of citizens of the state, especially those living in coastal communities to move to higher grounds. 

Members of the 2023 flood disaster management Committee include; Dr. Kingsley Emu, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) as Chairman, Hon. Ejiro Terry, Commissioner for Special Duties as Co- Chairman, Mr Jamani Ejiro, Commissioner for Environment, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, Commissioner for Health, Dr Kingsley Ashibuogwu, Commissioner for Primary Education, Mrs Rose Ezewu, Commissioner for Secondary Education, and Orode Uduaghan, Commissioner Humanitarian Affairs, Social and Girl Child Developement. 

Other members include Barr. Funyei Manager, Commissioner, Special Projects, Hon. Victor Ebonka, Chairman, ALGON, Chief Jaro Egbo, Special Adviser, Transport, Barr. Lyna Ocholor, Principal Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Karo Ovemeso, Executive Secretary SEMA, Sir. Festus Ahon, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor and Mr. Greg Ejowomu, Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Special Duties. 

Speaking during the inaugural meeting of the committee, the Secretary to State Government (SSG) Dr. Kingsley Emu charged the members to be diligent with the assignment as a lot depended on them to see that the actual flood victims are adequately catered for.

The SSG also stated that jingles to sensitize the public is being aired in various media houses which has been going on for the past two weeks, with a view to enlightening the public on the need to take precaution by moving out from flood prone areas to avoid being caught-up by the impending flood. 

The SSG also noted that plans were on the way to set up camps in the flood impacted areas of the state to accommodate those who may be affected by the impending flood. 

He gave the terms of reference of the committee to include; To propose appropriate measures for the prevention and management of flooding, address displacement of people and suggest ways for provision of relieve materials to victims. 

According to the SSG, members of the public are advised to call the following numbers when they become distressed from the flood affecting their communities for government intervention. 

The numbers are 08064137841 and 08037200696.

Nigerian Navy Lies Against Tantita Staff Over Arrest of Oil Theft_Mgt

Nigerian Navy Lies Against Tantita Staff Over Arrest of Oil Theft_Mgt

Press releases

1st September, 2023

THE ARREST OF TANTITA OPERATIVES AND PARADE BY THE NIGERIAN NAVY - A TRAGICOMEDY OF ERRORS

Yesterday the 31st of August 2023 the world woke up to a news story credited to the Commander, NNS BEECROFT of the Nigeria Navy, Commodore Kolawole Olumide Oguntuga, that the Nigerian Navy arrested four Tantita personnel for alleged crude oil theft. It would have been comedy, if it was not also tragedy.

The Navy is a constitutional institution mandated to keep Nigeria's seaward borders safe from invasion, criminality and free for economic activities. Tantita respects the institution and its constitutional mandate. And it was out of that respect that a couple of weeks ago when there was a face off between the service and Tantita over the MT Praisel, our organisation preferred to leave the Nigerian Navy to have the last word on the issue. It was our belief at the time that the matter was a misunderstanding which could have been better handled for the good of the nation and the common objective of Tantita and the Navy - the prevention of economic sabotage by oil thieves plying their nefarious trade on our nation's waterways.

However the present incident, coming barely three weeks after, does not seem to support that notion. What seems to be playing is a poorly written tragicomedy. The Nigerian Navy's story is that in the early hours of August 29, 2023 there was an attempt by Tantita operatives to steal crude which they foiled. They claim to have been responding to distress calls from youths in Itolou Community in the Lekki axis of Lagos, and "reviewing the information, Naval patrol teams immediately launched a response operation. Upon arrival at the scene, the Naval team met 4 individuals dressed in black polo shirts with TANTITA inscribed on the back, trying to recover a dismantled outboard engine from a local. The team recovered the engine and apprehended the 4 Tantita Employees."

According to the Nigerian Navy's statement, "It was after this arrest that the patrol team realized that the 4 individuals are part of a movement of a large wooden boat laden with 11 x 1000L Geepee tanks with product suspected to be stolen crude oil."

So it would be seen that at the time of the arrest, the only crime that the Tantita operatives were alleged to have committed was trying to recover a dismantled outboard engine. Thus, recovering outboard engines is now a crime. More interesting is the absence of a link between the outboard engine recovery story and the sudden epiphany - the realization by the navy patrol team that the four individuals they arrested are part of a movement of a large wooden boat at sea carrying stolen crude oil. The disjoint in the story is jarring.

On the other hand, this is what happened in fact. On Monday the 28th of August 2023 at about 0130hours a Tantita Security Services Patrol team operating in the Ondo State area received credible intelligence that a motorised wooden boat was illegally loading crude oil from an Offshore Oil Well Jacket - in fact the same Well Jacket in OML 110 operated by Cavendish Petroleum Nigeria Limited, where the MT TURA II was caught stealing Crude Oil a few months ago.

An advance team was dispatched to find the wooden boat while a back up team consisting of Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corps (NSCDC) component of the Government Security Agencies (GSA) was assembled to follow through on the lead. While we cannot name the NSCDC personnel for obvious reasons, they were six in number and our personnel were eight not four in number. The advance team with the help of local fisherfolk was able to determine that the motorised wooden boat was heading in the direction of Lagos and gave hot pursuit. Upon noticing the approaching Tantita teams the crew of the motorised wooden boat abandoned the wooden boat for their speed boat. One team of Tantita and NSCDC personnel boarded the wooden boat to secure the evidence while another team gave it a hot pursuit.

There is video evidence of the Tantita team together with NSCDC personnel coming alongside the wooden boat, boarding and attempting to secure the boat.

The video also shows the Tantita crew trying to secure the wooden boat which was taking in water (this could have resulted from an attempt to scuttle the boat by the escaping crew; anyone who understands Yoruba can listen in on the conversations).

Surprisingly the escaping crew of the motorised wooden boat fled in the direction of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base at Ibeju-Lekki, so the Tantita and NSCDC personnel followed in hot pursuit believing that the criminals would meet their Waterloo there. They were wrong. Instead of the fleeing crew being arrested, it was the Tantita personnel who came down to apprehend the fleeing crew that was arrested. After arresting Tantita personnel and freeing the crew, the Nigerian Navy personnel then went to the motorised wooden boat and drove out the combined Tantita/GSA team trying to keep the boat and the evidence afloat.

The Nigerian Navy press release was nothing but a smear campaign, the Navy has been sharing pictures in social media of the Tantita staff in their custody in various shades of undress but kept silent about the names of the boat crew whom they were chasing? In short, where is the crew that the Tantita personnel chased into Ibeju Lekki?

Most importantly, where is the boat now? You can clearly see the boat in the video provided below. Did the Nigerian Navy secure the boat? Can the Nigerian Navy explain the whereabouts of the motorised wooden boat? They were the last seen with the boat.

Nigerians can see why we are forced to say that the Nigerian Navy's press release was nothing but a smear campaign against Tantita and possibly a cover up. Is it possible that the Nigerian Navy deploys costly assets in these days of expensive petrol/diesel to respond communal distress calls involving commercial disputes as to ownership of outboard engines? Again, let us assume for the sake of argument that the distress call was with respect to shooting in Itolou community in Lekki area of Lagos State, what became of that investigation? Can the Navy tell the nation, after four days of investigation, who was shooting?

The time frames here are important. Tantita patrol team took off at 0130hrs (1:30 at night) on Monday 28th August 2023, and spotted the wooden boat at approximately 1400hours (2 in the afternoon) same Monday 28th August 2023 and were arrested by the Navy a few hours later on Monday 28th of August 2023. Why then did the Navy press release say it arrested Tantita personnel on Tuesday 29th August 2023? Why is the Navy saying it arrested 4 persons when in fact it arrested 5?

The Nigerian Navy is quite good at publicising videos of their personnel boarding vessels suspected of conveying illicit crude and refined products. Where is the Navy's video of boarding this wooden boat and arresting the Tantita personnel? How do you arrest oil thieves you claimed were using a wooden boat to steal crude oil, on land? If indeed Tantita personnel were stealing crude with a boat, why did they need to abandon their wooden boat laden with crude oil, tens of nautical miles away from the crime scene to recover a dismantled outboard engine when the wooden boat had working engines? There are too many gaps in the Navy press release.

In one breathe the Nigerian Navy is saying Tantita employees were caught trying to steal an outboard engine and in another breathe they are saying the Tantita operatives were arrested for trying to forcibly employ the owner of the boat to do their bidding. Quite interesting.

The arrest for four days and parade of Tantita staff by the Nigerian Navy as common criminals is to be deprecated by all right thinking members of society; at a time when our nation is in dire straits with the unparalleled loss of revenue from a monocultural export-based economy, these family men put their lives at risk for the good of the nation and are now being made to suffer ridicule for doing the right thing. It serves to demoralise good men everywhere who have sought and are seeking to do something to better our nation.

As soon as these men were arrested the management of Tantita reached out to the Nigerian Navy seeking clarification of the situation, for four days the Navy said they were investigating and that the men would be released. We now have the outcome of their investigation in that poorly digested press release.

There are even more damning revelations, which out of courtesy to the Navy hierarchy and the needs of national security we will not divulge on the pages of a newspaper. The continued detention by the Nigerian Navy of these five brave, selfless Nigerians who risked their lives on the high seas to protect our commonwealth is a disservice to our nation.

Signed:

Management Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.

Nigerian Rapper Phyno Expresses Joy as He Welcomes First Child

Nigerian Rapper Phyno Expresses Joy as He Welcomes First Child

A renowned Nigerian Rapper named Chibuzor Azubuike, popularly known professionally as Phyno, has announced the birth of his first child.

The rapper made this known on his Instagram page on Monday.

Sharing a picture holding his newborn, he wrote, “I took some time off to be a Father and also work on new music / Album and it’s been a wholesome experience. Now it’s time to get back to what I do best. ❤️”

Credit: Instagram  phynofino.

Tinubu urges new NDDC board to start work on APC agenda of renewed hope

Tinubu urges new NDDC board to start work on APC agenda of renewed hope 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of a new Board and Management team of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), urges the new board and management team to commence implementation of his renewed hope agenda for Nigerians, especially the Niger Delta people.

Inclusive of the following Board and Management team members are ;

Mr. Chiedu Ebie - Chairman - Delta

Dr. Samuel Ogbuku - Managing Director / CEO - Bayelsa 

Mr. Boma Iyaye - Executive Director (Finance and Admin) - Rivers 

Mr. Victor Antai - Executive Director (Projects) - Akwa-Ibom

Ifedayo Abegunde - Executive Director (Corporate Services) - Ondo 

Sen. Dimaro Denyanbofa - State Representative - Bayelsa 

Mr. Abasi Ndikan Nkono - State Representative - Akwa Ibom

Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya - State Representative - Delta 

Chief Tony Okocha - State Representative - Rivers 

Hon Patrick Aisowieren - State Representative - Edo 

Mr. Kyrian Uchegbu - State Representative - Imo 

Victor Kolade Akinjo - State Representative - Ondo 

Chief Dimgba Eruba - State Representative - Abia

Mr. Asu Oku Okang - State Representative - Cross River

Hon. Nick Wende - Zonal Representative - North Central 

Hon. Namdas Abdulrazak - Zonal Representative - North East

Sen. Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir - Zonal Representative - North West

According to the Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President, (Media & Publicity), said the President expects that the new Board and Management team will ensure a new era of successful administration in the NDDC, in line with his Renewed Hope agenda.

Delta at 32: Agediga hails past gov's, urges Deltans to support Gov. Sheriff

Delta at 32: Agediga hails past gov's, urges Deltans to support Sheriff 

 

Warri _____ Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State and immediate past Executive Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC ) on Sunday stated that Delta State is getting better.

Amb. Dr. Comr. Shedrack Agediga made the remark in Warri yesterday while reacting to Delta @ 32.

According to him, he said that no one should say that the Delta State of 32 years today is same of yesterday, stressing that while he would not want to count the military rule, the civilian Governors have all tried their bests in improving on the growth and development of the state and her citizens.

Speaking further, Agediga, a renowned Niger Delta philanthropist explained that from Chief Onanefe Ibori to Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to now Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Delta is no doubt moving forward as a state.

However, Agediga had called on Deltans never to renege on their support for Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

It would be recalled that Amb. Dr. Comr. Shedrack Agediga is the founder and chairman of the Shedrack Agediga Foundation (SAF), a Non Governmental Organisation he has used in transforming lives of many across the country.

Oil Theft: FG commends Tantita for a job well done on pipeline security

Oil Theft: FG commends Tantita for a job well done on pipeline security 

The Federal Government has expressed its appreciation to Tantita Security Services Limited for their dedicated efforts in safeguarding pipelines within the Niger Delta region. Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), conveyed this commendation during a press briefing on Saturday while inspecting oil facilities in the Niger Delta.

Accompanied by the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, and other government representatives, Lokpobiri emphasized the commitment of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to combat all forms of pipeline vandalism and oil theft in the nation.

Lokpobiri said, “We’re here because of the problem of pipeline vandalisation and illegal bunkering that is going on in the Niger Delta.

“I believe that it has become an existential problem and we need to fight them. We need to fight these criminals to submission.

“What is happening here is so bad that we cannot even know the implications unless maybe when people start dying in their numbers that is when people will know that a few persons were profiting from this crime are here to wipe all of them out.

“So, as a responsible government, we have decided that we are going to put a stop to it.

“We are going to work with stakeholders to ensure that we stop all this nonsense in our society. We are not going to allow them.

“I want to also use the opportunity to express our gratitude to Tantita that has been commissioned by the NNPCL to be able to do some work but we are going to do a lot more.”

Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), affirmed that the Federal Government intends to maintain its collaboration with Tantita Security Services Limited to effectively address the issues of pipeline vandalism and oil theft in the Niger Delta. He also mentioned that the government is planning to implement further measures to enhance pipeline security and bring about positive changes in this regard.

Ribadu said, “We have done very well to get to where we are now. We are certainly going to take more measures. So far, things are beginning to change. Give us little time and you will see things change for the better.

Sen. Dino Melaye reveals why he park cars and bike in his living room

Sen. Dino Melaye reveals why he park cars and bike in his living room  

Dino Melaye, the candidate for the Governorship of Kogi State under the Peoples Democratic Party, has chosen to explain why he prefers to keep his cars and motorbike in a parlour rather than a traditional garage.

During an interview with "Untold Stories with Adesuwa," which was recently uploaded online, the PDP leader revealed that he keeps a car and a bike in his living room, but he frequently changes the car depending on the occasion.

Dino Melaye also mentioned that he keeps his cars and bike inside his living room as if they were pieces of furniture. He explained that he does this because he wants them to have the same access to air conditioning that he enjoys in his house

Dino Melaye stated that when he planned to construct his house, he instructed the architect to include a designated area in the living room where he could park his car. Additionally, he expressed his desire for the swimming pool to be situated on the second floor of his house, hanging or suspended

Dino Melaye recently disclosed that he occasionally keeps his luxury cars such as Rolls Royce, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, or Maybach inside his living room.

Ezekiel Defends Tompolo on pipeline surveillance job performance, calls for renewal of contract

Ezekiel Defends Tompolo on pipeline surveillance job performance, calls for renewal of contract by FG

In response to recent negative publications and criticisms of High Chief Government Ekemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, a Niger Delta human rights activist, Comrade Daniel Ezekiel, has come forward to set the record straight regarding Tompolo's performance in the pipeline surveillance job.

Ezekiel expressed his disappointment at the cacophony of voices, particularly from ex-militant leaders who had once benefited from Tompolo's mentorship, but were now joining forces with outsiders to malign him. He described this act as unfortunate and ungrateful.

The activist recounted the genesis of the pipeline surveillance job, which began in 2002 when former President Olusegun Obasanjo sought to address the rampant oil theft, vandalism, and sabotage in the Niger Delta region. Obasanjo engaged in negotiations with Tompolo, leading to a groundbreaking arrangement between an individual and the government to secure pipelines.

The negotiations continued until the late President Umar Musa Yar'Adua assumed power in 2007. In 2010, the federal government awarded the first-ever pipeline surveillance job to Tompolo, who successfully delivered on the contract, receiving commendations from Nigerians across the country.

However, shortly after the job was awarded to Tompolo, influential government officials began pressuring the president to distribute the job to other interested parties. Despite being contented with his position, Tompolo agreed to include his fellow brothers from the region.

According to Ezekiel, Tompolo was the only one who fulfilled his contractual obligations, while others failed dismally in their respective areas. These same individuals, now parading themselves as ex-militant leaders, conspired with influential figures to tarnish Tompolo's reputation and poison President Buhari's mind against him.

Their scheme aimed to remove Tompolo from the job, presuming that it would be transferred to them. However, their plans were thwarted when the job was instead given to a total stranger, the late Captain Hosa, a Bini man. Under Captain Hosa's leadership, oil theft and various illegal activities plagued the oil sector, causing Nigeria's daily oil production to plummet.

Recognizing the mistake, President Buhari eventually reversed course and reawarded parts of the job to Tompolo's company, Tantita. Over the past year, Tompolo and his team have diligently tackled leakages in the oil sector, resulting in significant improvements in oil output.

Ezekiel criticized other ex-militant leaders, including Ateke Tom, Ben Ebikabowei, Asari Dokubo, Bibopere Ajube, and Ayiri Emami from Rivers and Bayelsa states, alleging that they did nothing to contribute to the job's success. Instead, they allegedly misappropriated funds intended for worker welfare for personal gain.

The activist vehemently opposed the idea of granting the pipeline surveillance job to these individuals, citing their lack of capacity and greed. He called for the renewal of Tantita's contract, highlighting the company's impressive record over the past year.

In conclusion, Ezekiel expressed his support, alongside other critical stakeholders, for the continuation of Tompolo's pipeline surveillance job, emphasizing the positive impact it has on Nigeria's oil sector

Ex-N/Delta Militant Leaders fight over N48bn Pipeline Contract Renewal

Ex-N/Delta Militant Leaders fight over N48bn Pipeline Contract Renewal

Source: Leadership

Aug 21, 2023 3:48 AM

Abuja ____ Another round of tension has gripped the oil industry in the Niger Delta over the renewal of the N48billion oil pipeline surveillance contract awarded to the former leader of the dreaded Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemukpolo, alias Tompolo.

Already, the renewal of the contract had pitched Tompolo against his colleagues involved in the struggle  in the region, particularly the leader of the defunct Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Mujahideen Asari-Dokubo; HRM Ateke Tom; Ebikabowei Victor Ben, alias Boyloaf; Chief Bibopere Ajube, alias Shoot-at-Sight, and an ex-warlord in Imo State axis of the region, Commander Nigeria, among others, across the states of the oil-rich belt.

The multi-billion naira security job awarded to Tantita Security Services, owned by Tompolo in August 2022, is due for renewal by the end of this month, a development which has triggered intense intrigues and maneuvering by some ex-warlords to wrestle it from the former MEND commander.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the ex-militant commanders are strongly opposed to the renewal of the contract as exclusively packaged for Tompolo in 2022.

LEADERSHIP recalls that the contract covers surveillance and protection of oil pipelines, which criss-crossed various oil producing communities in Bayelsa, Delta, Imo, Ondo and Rivers States.

The award of the job to Tompolo was facilitated by former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, former Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr Mele Kyari, in August 2022.

One year later, as Tompolo prepared to approach the management of NNPCL for the renewal of the job, his ex-colleagues were up in arms against him.

The protesting ex-militant commanders are agitating for the splitting of the contract to accommodate divergent interests. There are mounting pressures on the Presidency and NNPCL not to re-award the contract solely to Tompolo and his outfit in its present component.

They vehemently opposed an omnibus contract to be awarded to Tompolo, which would cover places  outside his areas of influence in Gbaramatu axis of Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

They insisted that his ambience of operation should be limited to his communities in Delta State, while they are allowed to also operate in their areas.

They rejected the template offered by the embattled warlord to sublet parts of the job to them in their different enclaves, insisting that the package being offered by Tompolo was at variance with his earnings from NNPCL, for the job.

Instead, LEADERSHIP learnt that they were unanimous that the contract be splitted, with its components awarded separately to individual ex-commanders to man their areas of influence.

Already, the aggrieved warlords have protested to the presidency, especially the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, and Kyari, apparently to halt the moves to award the contract in bulk to their kinsman.

LEADERSHIP learnt that Kyari reportedly advised the protesters to remain calm pending the inauguration of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who is expected to prepare a memo on the festering issue for the attention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

It was gathered that Tompolo was also having a running battle with his kinsmen and some close associates of Tinubu, who were bent on punishing him for allegedly not supporting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 polls.

They accused the ex-militant commander of having supported and heavily funded the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) within and outside Delta State, in the just concluded elections.

Those opposing Tompolo said he didn’t reciprocate the visit of Tinubu, in company with Kyari and other top party stalwarts to his enclave on Friday November 25, 2022 and the visit of another team raised by the President and headed by Kyari, with Wale and Seyi Tinubu as members of the team, on the eve of the governorship and houses of assembly election on March 17, 2023, to garner votes and support for the governing

However, to starve off any untoward development, Tompolo’s men and foot soldiers were reported to have relocated to Abuja to intensify lobby to retain the status quo in the award of the job.

LEADERSHIP gathered that they have approached Ribadu, Kyari, Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila and other influential members of the inner circles of Tinubu, including members of the president’s immediate family, for help.

But despite stiff opposition, investigation by this paper revealed that Tompolo’s bid to renew the job still enjoyed the backing and support of Sylva, who is apparently relying on the former MEND leader for support in the November 2023 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State, Omo-Agege, who was said to have forgiven Tompolo for not supporting his gubernatorial ambition in the 2023 election and the chief executive of NNPCL.

They were reportedly touching base with powerful links within and outside the Presidency to ensure that Tompolo triumph, taunting and flaunting widely reported ex-militant and his company’s impressive records in the war against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the region, as satisfactory credentials to renew the job.

One of our sources disclosed that the trio in their alibi in favour of Tompolo expressed conviction that renewal of Tantita’s contract would help in consolidating the gains so far recorded in the war against illicit deals associated with crude oil, in the region.

The source said, “The management of NNPCL has been having difficulties in renewing the pipeline surveillance contract given to Chief Tompolo to oversee the security and protection of crude oil pipelines in the Bayelsa, Delta, Imo, Ondo and part of Rivers State in 2022 because his colleagues in the Niger Delta struggle are up in arms against him. They are opposed to an omnibus award of the same contract to him. They are saying that Tompolo cannot protect the pipelines in their areas.

Efforts by our correspondent to get reactions from Tompolo and the management of Tantita Security Services, were futile.

Tantita’s managing director, Chief Keston Pondi and  the company’s head, Operations/Intelligence, Captain Warredi Enisuoh, ignored persistent calls and messages to their cell phones, for one week, to secure their reactions to the report.

But a source in Tantita Security Services, who pleaded with this newspaper not to mention his name because he was not competent to speak neither on behalf of Tompolo nor the company, said Tompolo and his lieutenants were not leaving any stone unturned to put issues in proper perspectives.

He said, “Tompolo’s men are in Abuja already to put paid to some lies being peddled against their boss, especially as concerned about his roles in the 2023 elections. Most of what is being said about him are tissues of lies. They are making frivolous allegations about him with a view to ensuring that the contract is not renewed. Come to think of it, what does the outcome of the elections have to do with the award and discharge of a legitimate business? This is purely a business and not politics. As Mr. President said recently, the time for politics is over. It’s now time for governance.

“Tantita has performed excellently in the assignment handed over to it to the admiration of all and sundry. The records of the increase in crude oil production are there in NNPCL and the oil multinationals and we must warn that it would not be in the interest of our economy to sacrifice excellence in favour of mundane arguments.

“We are not losing any sleep in Tantita and even our principal, High Chief Government Ekpemukpolo, alias Tompolo, is not bothered about the so-called gang-up. We have done our best in Tantita in taming the hoodlums draining our economy through illicit crude oil deals and our performance chat is there for everyone to check. We have received accolades from within and outside the country for our efforts in salvaging the nation’s economy. The President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that we know very well will not succumb to undue pressures of blackmailers and enemies of Nigeria.

“We have no doubt that the management of NNPCL will take the right steps by renewing the contract to enable us to strengthen and consolidate our efforts in the national interests. Those opposed to us are the oil thieves and their collaborators, whom we have blocked the sources of their ill-gotten wealth,” the Tantita source added.

The group general manager, Public Affairs, NNPCL, Mr. Garba Deen Muhammad, also declined to comment on the report. Muhammad shunned calls and messages sent to him on the subject matter.

FG Sets Up Committee for Artisanal Refinery Operation in Nigeria

FG Sets Up Committee for Artisanal Refinery Operation in Nigeria 

Abuja ____ Following the shortfall of petroleum products in Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said the government would commence the integration of artisanal refiners into the mainstream crude oil refining process as part of its efforts to achieve energy security in the country.

This was made available to newsmen by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Gabriel Aduda, on Wednesday in Abuja, where he inaugurated a Technical Committee charged with the responsibility of fashioning ways and means of integrating local Artisanal Oil Refiners (AOR) in the larger production ecosystem.

According to him, the move aside from providing sustainable energy sources for Nigerians, also advances responsible practices in the oil and gas sector to guard against environmental degradation.

Aduda narrated in his open remark that the persistent request by the Artisanal Oil Refiners was brought to the attention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who directed the Ministry to review and propose the way forward.

The permanent secretary subsequently approved the proposal to constitute a Technical Committee on subsidy removal without tears/integration of mini/Artisanal Refinery Operations into the In-Country Oil Refinery Programme.

The Committee’s Terms of Reference (TOR) are as follows: to develop materials/framework for the sensitization and integration of the mini/Artisanal Refiners into Midstream crude oil refining; to ascertain the technology, skills, safety and environmental global best practices in the petroleum industry and facilitate the mainstreaming of Artisanal refineries to boost in-country refining capacity at the required specifications; to identify the sources of fund for the integration and establishment of the Artisanal refiners into the economy and structure the refund mechanism; to facilitate the provision of crude oil for experimental and research purposes to institutions with prototype refineries for testing their equipment; and, to review and make recommendations to Mr President on ways to task our national technical institutions in building standard refineries for refining the crude in-country.

Aduda chairs the technical committee.

Members are; Director Upstream (MPR) Kamoru Busari, Director Midstream & Downstream (MPR) Muhammed M. Abubakar; Dr Adamu Abubakar Ahmed from Petroleum Training Institute (PTI); Zuhumben Paul from Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB); Dr Isa Sambo from Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA); Basaka Hussaini Aminu from Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), John Terry Vanduhe from Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL); Satiya Mutazu Ahmed from Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget & National Planning (FMFBNP).

Other members are; Uno Ogban Uno from Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); Flight Lieutenant Terry Ajobena (rtd) from Presidential Amnesty Programme; Dr Omonigho B. Otanocha from Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE); Anthony Abiye George from Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI);

Godwin Sunday from the Domestic Refineries Owners Association of Nigeria, among others.

IYC congratulates Lokpobiri, hails Tinubu on Reinstatement of N/Delta Ministry

IYC congratulates Lokpobiri, hails Tinubu on Reinstatement of N/Delta Ministry 

Press Statement 

21/08/2023

IYC Congratulates Heineken Lokpobiri, Lauds Tinubu Over Appointment, Reinstatement Of Niger Delta Ministry 

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has congratulated Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri on his well deserved appointment as Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil) Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

IYC as critical stakeholders in the Niger Delta region and beyond, we want to specially appreciate His Excellency, Bola Tinubu, President Federal Republic of Nigeria in finding one of the best Niger Delta brains, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri for finding him worthy to be appointed as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil).

Heineken Lokpobiri as former speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, a two term Senator that represented Bayelsa West Senatorial District, former minister for State, agriculture, Federal Republic of Nigeria, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC ) and a renowned leader in the Niger Delta region who has contributed towards the growth and development of the Niger Delta over the years is no doubt a perfect man for the job and a round peg in a round hole. 

Considering the political pedigree and leadership role Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri has been playing over the years in the region, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide is optimistic that he will perform his duty as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) to the admiration of all as a product of the Niger Delta struggle who is well abreast with the multifaceted issues bedeviling the region. His appointment comes with so much happiness across the Niger Delta region. 

We want to at this point appreciate His Excellency, Bola Tinubu, President Federal Republic of Nigeria for listening to the voice of Niger Deltans, particularly to the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide and others who appealed to Mr. President over the rumoured scrapping of the Niger Delta Ministry. 

The swift response to our appeal shows that President Bola Tinubu is indeed a listening President, we are grateful for the redeployment of Abubakar Momoh to the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Development. This to us is a welcome development. 

IYC is using this medium to congratulate other Ministers from the Niger Delta region which is our primary constituency and all Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that has been inaugurated. It is our call that all Ministers including President Bola Tinubu should prioritise the rapid development of the Niger Delta region, particularly the Ijaw areas as council will be ready to engage with them on the way forward as partners of progress in the Niger Delta.

Finally, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide will continue to engage with critical stakeholders for the growth and development of Ijaw nation. Council will collaborate with Government agencies that are willing to partner with us for the development of our areas where necessary. 

Signed:

Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri 

President Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide. 

Amb. Binebai Yerin Princewill 

Spokesman Ijaw Youth Council (IYC ) Worldwide.

Mulade Commends Delta Govt for flood control measures, calls for lDP camps set up

Mulade Commends Delta Govt for flood control measures, calls for lDP camps set up

Abuja ______ A renowned Niger Delta born human rights and environmental justice advocate, Comrade (Chief) Mulade Sheriff has charged Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State to proactively put measures in place in other to curb flooding in Delta communities following the recent heavy rains and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) prediction for August, 2023.

Comrade Mulade, who is the National Coordinator of Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, gave the charge on Friday 18th August, 2023 in Abuja while speaking on the impact of flooding in the country, particularly Niger-Delta region, at a conference organized by environmental experts, towards addressing the various environmental challenges associated with flooding in Nigeria. 

The conference which drew environmental experts from around the world, featured presentations on policies and methods of curbing and managing flood in Nigeria. For his part, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, charged the Federal and state governments, specifically the Delta State Governor, to proactively put measures and strategies in place to curb flooding in Delta state. 

He said, according to the prediction of NEMA, about nineteen (19) states would experience flooding in August, 2023 and Delta State is one of them; adding that, based on the prediction, fifty-six (56) communities might be submerged, and communities likely to experience heavy flooding are those situated in low lands and riverine areas of Delta State. 

In the early quarters of 2023, CEPEJ under the directive of its National Coordinator, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, embarked on community sensitization on flood control, what to do before, during and after flood, and provided safety tips on flood, and ways to stay safe in flood-prone communities in Delta, Bayelsa and other Niger Delta States, to create awareness in traditional rulers, chiefs, women, youths, and community leaders on how to protect the lives and property of their people during flood as predicted by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NHSA, on February 17, 2023, annual flood outlook in Nigeria. In line with that simple but proactive measure, Comrade Sheriff Mulade urged the Delta state government to adopt pragmatic approach and act fast by provide the needed assistance and save the lives and property of Deltans living in such a disadvantaged region of the State before it is too late.  

Comrade Mulade further urged the state government to set up a committee of environmental experts both in the Ministry and non-governmental organizations, NGO etc, to work directly with government environmental agencies to urgently constructing flood Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, relocating individuals and communities to higher lands, providing relief materials and medicines for victims.

" I want to sincerely commend the Delta State Government led by Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori for clearing and evacuating debris from blocked drains and opening up water channels across measure cities in Delta State as part of efforts to nip and control the imminent flood in the State and i urge residents of the State to obey government instructions and directives".