Tompolo: War and rumors of war in N’Delta, says Warri chieftain

The former Niger Delta Militant Leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, was given a contract to monitor pipelines, and the Igba of Warri Kingdom, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, has petitioned the Federal Government to withdraw the contract.
The Niger Delta activist claims that there is a “drum of war” in the area as a result of protest to the contract.
At a news conference on Monday in Abuja, Lori-Ogbebor made the demand in response to the awarding of N48 billion in pipeline surveillance contracts to Tompolo.
She asserts that the government, not any one person or business, should be in charge of managing matters in the Niger Delta.
Despite objections, the Federal Government chose Tompolo to get the oil pipeline surveillance contract from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
The Niger Delta region hopes to be free of pipeline theft, illicit bunkering, and oil theft thanks to the N4 billion per month deal.
In response, Lori-Ogbebor said, “There is insecurity in the country but we should be more worried about that of the Niger Delta.
“I have come here to call on the world to what is happening in the Niger Delta. Today, there is drum of war in the region.
“There is show of ammunition without fear; people show them without fear.
“I am urging the Federal Government to withdraw the contract of Tompolo because it is the custodian of this country it cannot leave Niger Delta in the hands of few persons to manage.”
To promote equity in the area, according to Lori-Ogbebor, the Niger Delta Development Commission Master Plan must be fully implemented.
She asserted that there needed to be a tool for effective placement and management because the master plan was not being followed in the nomination of regional managers.
The Petroleum Industry Act, according to Lori-Ogbebor, should be reviewed in a way that prevents issues in the Niger Delta.
“This is because part of the act says that government will only give the communities money if there are no hazards to the pipelines.”
Additionally, Lori-Ogbebor called on the government to provide the findings of the NDDC forensic audit report.

GOGAN Media.