The Niger Delta Riverine Oil and Gas Producing Communities Development Forum has conveyed its congratulations to President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on their recent victory at the Presidential Election Petition Court in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, and with an appeal to the Federal Government to renew the Pipeline Surveillance Contract to the popular Tantinta Security Services Nigeria Limited owned by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo.

The group's message was contained in a document titled 'A Congratulatory Letter and Appeal to President Bola Tinubu by the Niger Delta Riverine Oil and Gas Producing Communities Development Forum for the Renewal of Pipeline Surveillance Contract to Tantinta for the Betterment of Nigeria', and was signed by its chairman, High Chief James Tangbowei (JP).

Part of the document reads: "We, the Niger Delta Riverine Oil and Gas Producing Communities Development Forum, under the leadership of High Chief James Tangbowei (JP), the Toimelemowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom in the Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, heartily felicitate with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on their victory at the Presidential Election Tribunal Court in Abuja on Wednesday, September 6, 2023.

"We also use this medium to appeal to the Federal Government of Nigeria, led by the duo above, to renew the pipeline surveillance contract to Tantita security company, chaired by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo).

"For centuries, oil bunkering and oil theft have been in existence with security personnel and companies that were given the contract to secure them failing to do their jobs. Then, there were a lot of security houseboats stationed in the rivers but right in their noses things keep getting worse. But just last year that the job was given to Tantita, oil theft has been a thing of the past. We that are in the riverine areas have noticed and experienced that Tantita is doing the job 100 percent, which is the reason for our outcry to the government, that it should not listen to those who are desperate in the region to continue the business of oil theft as usual to the loss of Nigeria and particularly, the Niger Delta people, by their discrediting Tantita.

"For now, Tantita is the best thing that has happened in Nigeria and the Niger Delta region. Through Tantita, youth restiveness has become a thing of the past. Before now, those that were given the contract to execute took it the contract to themselves. But in this case, Tompolo has given this contract to everybody—the people he has employed are numerous. Also, from this contract, we are seeing the protection of the environment from pollution. Therefore, we want the FG to renew this contract to Tantita for the country to be on the safer side. We have seen the difference since they awarded the contract to Tantita,"  the group stated.

Going forward, the group frowned at the disposition of those set of Nigerians who do not mean well for the country by their criticism of good policies, and urged all Niger Deltans to rally behind and those opposing the contract renewal to partner with Tompolo rather than exhibit the 'Pull-Him-Down-Syndrome'.

”Lastly, any person or group that wants to benefit from the contract should partner with Tompolo and not go against him. If some of these persons are the ones handling this contract, they would have run to Dubai to enjoy themselves and forget about the job. And so, something that you cannot do, if somebody is doing it well you should appreciate the person and align with him rather than condemn that person. Such action is uncalled for.

"When President Tinubu removed fuel subsidy he was criticized and labeled as someone who doesn't mean well for the country despite the disadvantage of that subsidy regime to the country. Now, the government through this contract to Tompolo, is waging a war against oil theft to stop the loss of revenue and the degradation of the environment through oil spill, those Nigerians have again start with their criticism. It is obvious that such persons do not mean well for the country.

"If oil theft is phased out, it is our belief that the country will not be borrowing money from other countries, rather Nigeria should lend to other countries. Tantita is the best security company based on what the company has achieved in the last one year. This position of ours is not fiction but a reality of the situation that is on ground. And that is the way we, in the riverine communities in the Niger Delta, see it," the statement concluded.

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