• Super Admin
• 06 Mar, 2026

Fresh controversy has erupted over the Federal Government's pipeline surveillance contract awarded to companies linked to former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, as opposing views emerge over the future of the multi-million-dollar deal. While some stakeholders are urging the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to retain the arrangement due to its role in curbing crude oil theft, others are calling for a review of the contract amid concerns about transparency, accountability and the precedent it sets for Nigeria's security architecture. A legal practitioner and security expert, Blessing Agbomhere, reportedly urged the Federal Government to sustain the surveillance framework, describing it as a "strategic national instrument" that has contributed significantly to protecting critical oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta. In a public communication addressed to President Tinubu, the National Security Adviser and leaders of the National Assembly, Agbomhere argued that the surveillance system coordinated by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited and other indigenous security firms has helped curb pipeline vandalism and improve crude oil production levels in the region. According to him, the success of the framework lies largely in its reliance on local intelligence networks and community-based monitoring structures capable of detecting illegal bunkering activities across difficult terrains in the creeks. However, the arrangement has come under renewed scrutiny as the Federal Government reassesses strategies for tackling oil theft and protecting the country's petroleum assets. Reports indicate that Tompolo is currently battling to retain the surveillance contract, which is estimated to be worth about N48 billion annually, as policymakers review Nigeria's broader security and energy protection strategy. The contract has positioned the former militant leader at the centre of one of the most sensitive arrangements in Nigeria's oil sector, with debates intensifying over the role of private actors in safeguarding national infrastructure. Observers say Tompolo's camp is relying on longstanding relationships in both Abuja and the Niger Delta to defend the arrangement, insisting that their familiarity with local communities and terrain gives them a strategic advantage in combating oil theft syndicates operating in the region. The review process has also triggered quiet political competition within the Niger Delta, as rival power blocs reportedly push for a share of the lucrative surveillance operations. Despite arguments in favour of the arrangement, critics continue to question whether outsourcing sensitive national security functions to private networks linked to former militants could create long-term institutional risks. One of the strongest criticisms has come from Niger Delta activist Zik Gbemre, who described the situation as a troubling contradiction in Nigeria's anti-oil theft strategy. In an article titled "When Crime Becomes a Contract: The Tompolo and Tantita Surveillance Controversy," Gbemre argued that awarding pipeline surveillance responsibilities to individuals previously linked to crude oil theft risks sending the wrong message about accountability. According to him, the development raises fundamental questions about governance and justice, particularly in a country where pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering have long undermined economic stability. "If individuals previously linked to pipeline sabotage are rewarded with government contracts, it risks creating the perception that crime eventually pays," he argued. Gbemre also questioned whether the surveillance contract delivers adequate value for the reported N48 billion annual cost, stressing that public funds must be tied to measurable outcomes and transparent oversight. Beyond financial concerns, the activist warned that outsourcing pipeline protection to actors once associated with the threat could blur the line between enforcement and coercion. He also expressed concern over reports that some individuals linked to the surveillance network allegedly threatened to resume pipeline vandalism if the contract were revoked, describing such claims -- if verified -- as evidence of a potentially dangerous security arrangement. According to him, Nigeria must avoid creating a system where the protection of national assets appears tied to negotiations with actors previously involved in sabotage. While acknowledging that protecting oil infrastructure is essential to Nigeria's economy, Gbemre insisted that the framework must be transparent, accountable and designed to discourage criminality rather than appear to reward it. He also called for thorough investigations into allegations of unexplained wealth and lavish spending by some individuals reportedly associated with the surveillance network, noting that such developments inevitably raise public questions about the management of public funds. The activist urged the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to subject all pipeline surveillance contracts to strict oversight and accountability mechanisms. Source: https://hallmarknews.com/tinubu-urged-to-review-tompolos-multi-million-dollar-pipeline-security-contract/