By Akinwale Kasali
A Northern Based Group under the aegis of Concerned Northern Forum, has urged the Federal Government to order the immediate termination of the N4 Billion worth Pipeline Surveillance Contract awarded to ex-Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd.
It was claimed by the Group that the contract awarded to Tompolo would only teach Nigerian youths that it was better to be “thugs, fugitive than a loyal citizen.”
At a press briefing organized by the Group at the Arewa House, Kaduna, it urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the NNPC LTD, describing oil and gas thefts as outrageous.
Mallam Ibrahim Bature, Chairman of the Group while addressing the Media said that it was time for Northerners to defend themselves against banditry, kidnapping and other related crimes ravaging the region.
He also urged the National Assembly to make public its findings on the ongoing subsidy probe after conclusion of the investigations.
He added, “As you are aware, since the revelation of the award of Pipeline Surveillance contract to Government Ekpemupolo, a.k.a Tompolo, and others came to public knowledge, the country has been charged over the decision of the Federal Government and the NNPC Ltd to award security contract to private individuals, especially those with negative records of raising arms against the state before they were granted amnesty.
“That we vehemently reject and oppose the pipeline Surveillance Contract the NNPC Ltd awarded to Tompolo, hence, it should be terminated with immediate effect.
We urge the Federal Government to channel the N48 billion Tompolo will be earning annually to address the developmental and environmental need of the Niger Delta people, rather than sharing such funds for the boys.
“The contract awarded to Tompolo will only teach our youths it’s better to be thugs, fugitive, than a loyal citizen.
“With incidences like these, we have no choice than to answer the calls by some Northern Governors to defend ourselves against the Banditry and Kidnapping bedevilling our region, and this will resort to the use of weapons which will later result in another big problem in the future.
“We urge the FGN to please listen to our clarion call, do the needful so that the citizens will not rebel against the state.
“We wish to call on Mr President to look critically into the position of both the Nigeria Customs and the Nigerian Navy over the outrageous claims of theft in the Oil and Gas sector by the NNPC. Both can’t be wrong while the NNPC is right. Hence, heavy sanctions should be imposed on the top management of the company.
“Declare a State of Emergency in the NNPC Ltd by appointing Military Administrators to watch over the affairs of the company pending when investigation will be concluded into the subsidy regime that cost the country trillions of Naira annually.
“Commend the National Assembly for initiating the ongoing probe into the subsidy regime and to also urge them to make the process public, through live broadcast,” he said.
