The General Secretary of Kokodiagbene Executive Council in Kokodiagbene community, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, Elder Francis Ayeku, has urged the President Bola Tinubu administration to demonstrate the progressiveness in the All Progressives Congress mantra by renewing the pipeline surveillance contract to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, the security firm that the Niger Delta leader and activist, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, has stake in.

Recall that Tantita was awarded the pipeline surveillance contract last year (2022) by the federal government through the newly re-organised Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, to help it secure the country’s national pipeline assets from oil theft and vandalism.

Speaking to the press in Warri on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, the General Secretary said that with the positive giant strides made by Tantita in securing oil pipelines, the federal government ought to have renewed the pipeline surveillance contract even before the expiration of the contract tenure.

While also noting that President Tinubu's government, since been declared winner of the last presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has been battling to retain its victory at the polls, nonetheless, the administration ought to have given the nod especially as the contract is a very sensitive one since petroleum contributes much to government revenue base.

"I don't think the clamour for pipeline surveillance has been this loud as in the case of Tantita," Elder Ayeku said. "One reason for this is because majority of the Niger Delta people realized that it is not only the Tantita people whose future of engagement are at stake, but theirs as well.

"Before this contract came, you need to come to the creeks to witness for yourself what has been going on for years. In fact, the pollution was suffocating us. But then, because the poor people in our communities lack the resources, their voices were not heard.

"But with the sudden pipeline contract, the difference within one year is very clear that even the blind knows it. Oil production has not only gone up, but Tantita has been able to prove to the world that oil theft is a very big business beyond what those local bunkerers were doing," he added.

Continuing, he asked, “So what is the government waiting for? The delay by the government in renewing this sensitive contract is beginning to cast aspersion on the APC's progressives stand as symbolised in the party's name. Are we making progress or regression?”

The Kokodiagbene leader therefore appeal to President Tinubu to without delay douse the apprehension in the Niger Delta region by renewing the contract to Tompolo's Tantita.

"Since the Niger Delta is the hub of oil production, Tompolo is a central figure that aligns all and he is the square peg in a square hole. Even those against the contract renewal knows this.

"Nigeria should not been seen to take ten steps forward and then eight steps backward at the same time. Not renewing the pipeline surveillance contract to Tantita could be seen on the part of the federal government to doing just that," he added.

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