Former deputy governor of Delta State, Dcn. Kingsley Otuaro Esq., has affirmed that Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, TSSNL, allegedly owned by Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo, and that was engaged "to intensify the fight against crude oil theft and [to] secure national oil and gas assets from destruction" is a "square peg in a square hole" in his latest call for the renewal of the pipeline surveillance contract by the Federal Government to Tantita.

The ex-deputy governor gave the affirmation on Sunday, August 3, 2023, amidst his call for the renewal of the pipeline surveillance contract to Tantita, in an open letter addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the executive governor of the state, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori.

Otuaro, who noted that Tantita is winning the war against oil theft wondered why the outcry against the renewal of the pipeline surveillance contract in favour of the security firm, just he also stressed that the renewal of the contract by the Tinubu-led administration to Tantita will further boost more confidence in the president's ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra.

"...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," part of the letter reads.

Otuaro, a native of Okerenkoko in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West, and Obotobo in Burutu LGA of the state, and was chairman of the Delta State Advocacy Committee Against Oil Assets Destruction during his tenure, revealed that the "campaigns against oil assets destruction" in collaboration with the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Niger Delta headed by former vice president Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, saddled with "addressing topical issues concerning the Niger Delta" and that resulted to visits to some states the region by the VP, was what led to the outcome of Tantita in securing oil assets.

"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," Otuaro said.

The ex-deputy governor also reiterated that his letter, backed by his "substantial knowledge of the menace of crude oil theft and vandalism of its infrastructure" and as a native from communities which play host to the trans-Escravos pipeline and the 200km trans-Forcados pipeline, stems from the fact that he is "worried because Nigeria undoubtedly is a mono-economy that is majorly reliant on crude oil and gas receipts" and that "any shock in the sector, whether man-made or natural cause, adversely impacts the economy."

His Excellency also reminded President Tinubu on the recession experienced in the country in the aftermath of the 2015 general election that "brought in your predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari into office" arising from the "unprecedented and successive breaches of critical oil and gas facilities including the famous trans-Forcados delivery pipeline on the 27th May 2016" which led to "a drastic drop in crude oil production and a dip in its price in the international market to an all-time low [of] 24 dollars per barrel."

He therefore cautioned that President Tinubu "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."

While giving his assurance to the Presidency, Otuaro added that: "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."

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