Oil Theft: Navy are working at cross purpose with Tantita - Tompolo

Chairman of Tantita Security Services Limited, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo has accused personnel of the Nigerian Navy of being a clog in their fight against oil theft in the Niger Delta, calling on Nigerians to join hands in the battle to save the country economy.

Tompolo made the call Monday while playing host to the National leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, led by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN at Oporoza, Delta State.

The Egbesu High Priest said Navy officials shot at operatives of Tantita, NSCDC and DSS who arrested a vessel in Rivers State and Ovwian in Delta State in recent encounters.

According to him: "What we want is for you to support the President of this country and Tantita Security Services because while doing this work, we actually stepping on a lot of toes who are the big boys over there in Lagos and Abuja. 

"Most times, you see that Tantita Security now have confrontations with the Nigerian Navy and all that. Every well-meaning Nigerian knows the function of Nigerian Navy and Tantita now, but nobody wants to come out to face the truth. If we happen to arrest anybody now, they would get a lawyer from Abuja, Lagos or Ibadan to do your case very well. 

"Now that you are here, GMD said production has increased to 1.8mbd. Some few days back, our people intercepted a vessel in Port Harcourt, where the Nigerian Navy was shooting at Tantita Security, with Police, DSS and Civil Defence. 

"We want to implore and beg, you have a duty to play in this present situation because if we are not careful in this country,  maybe we would not have money to do any reasonable thing. All of us here know that Nigeria is facing hardship. A bag of rice is over N100,000. We are going to do our part locally. But you are there at the top. 

"If we arrest today, lawyers would stand on the other side and this side. What I want to appeal is that you need to help us. If somebody is coming to load a vessel of 500 metric tonnes, in this community, nobody has that capacity.

"The person comes from either Lagos or neighbouring countries or Abuja. So we have to step on a lot of toes. As I am here, after my court cases, I cannot travel anywhere because of the key people fighting this battle. If I want to travel to Abuja to visit you, I have to go with Security. If I have two or three Security personnel,  none of them is happy with Tompolo and they are now even working with people that are top players of oil theft." He added.

NBA President, Afam Osigwe SAN in his speech said, "We came to Gbaramatu Kingdom to see for ourselves and get first hand information. On the 7th day of November 2024 at our just concluded National Executive Council meeting, Nec passed a resolution.

"We resolved that our branches in the oil bearing communities should be interested on the issue of oil theft which affects our national economy and also impacted negatively on the Nigeria government not to be able to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of Nigeria. And also impacted negatively on our foreign reserve and so we felt that, there is need for that partnership between us to be taken seriously. 

"So we came here to know that Gbaramatu Kingdom as a place played host to a company called Tantita Security Services Limited which they have been working with the NNPCL and the National Security Adviser to deal with oil theft, and oil pipeline protection and fighting the issue of oil theft which also affect negatively the Nigerians ability to meet the minimum quota of oil production.  

"We thought that it will be a good thing for us to come first to get first hand knowledge and see for ourselves how the battle has been fought, and the challenges and see how it has help improve the Nigeria oil production, economy.

"After NEC meeting we are glad to see and hear the announcement that oil production for the first time in so many years has climbed above 1.3million Per-barrel daily, promise about 2 million barrel per day before December. and we saw it as a great importance because In the last few years Nigerian has been borrowing to pay salaries.

"We are not expert in even though we are Learnard that if the country earned more from the oil that they produced we will be able to borrow less and put infrastructure of what is expected from the government. 

"We also say we should take this opportunity to go and see about the oil exploration impact on the oil bearing communities in the Niger Delta of Nigeria, so we have come to get first time experience and we believed that we will leave here better inform. The visit has also help us to meet with our colleagues from Gbaramatu Kingdom.

"As Nigerians, our fate are tied together. We have a common interest in seeing that the Nigerian economy works, a common interest in seeing that the commonwealth of Nigeria is protected for the well-being of every person and all hands must be on deck to ensure that the economic loss we suffer as a result of oil theft, is combatted. 

On his part, HRM, Oboro Gbaruan II, Aketekpe/Agadagba, Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom thanked the NBA for the timely visit.

According to him, "We need people like this to come to see for yourselves, this is Gbaramatu.  Before now, people were making all sorts of allegations against Gbaramatu Kingdom, but now you are here. We always tell people,  if you are coming to Gbaramatu Kingdom, don't be afraid.

"We are working for the peace of Niger Delta, extending hands of fellowship to other kingdoms. Ijaw people stand for truth. We are a peaceful people.

"This is Gbaramatu Kingdom, we stand for peace, we stand to extend hands of fellowship, we work for the peace of Niger Delta, and this is how we find ourselves.
Things you are seeing,  I want to let you know that the presence of the government is even far from us. 

"All these you are seeing is from the efforts of our elites, our big boys. So we are also calling on the government,  we produce the oil, from our territory we feed the coffers of this country. So they should draw closer to us, do the needful for us to also reciprocate." He added.