How Tompolo shielded Chevron's oil facilities from danger during militancy - Gbasin

Pioneer Executive Director of Projects, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Pastor (Dr) Philip Yerinmene Gbasin has revealed how High Chief (Dr.) Oweizide Government Ekpemupolo Alias Tompolo showed leadership and shielded Chevron's Nigeria Limited highly inflammable oil facilities from imminent danger without any charges or cost to the company during the hit of militancy in the Niger Delta region. 

Pastor Gbasin made the declaration in an open letter to President Ahmed Tinubu, a copy of which was sent to our Correspondent. 

According to Gbasin ,"Apart from God Almighty, Tompolo, was a Key leadership factor that gave the company that rare edge. His circle of influence was, and is still very wide and deep in the Niger Delta." He said.

He alleged that the in the wake of the Warri ethnic crisis, the military on several occasions forcefully used the Chevron Oil Tank Farm as operational base to launch attacks on some warring factions in the crisis, in a bid to enforce peace in the area. 

"This in turn provoked some armed factions to vent their anger on the company which was accused of taking sides in the inter-ethnic violence. 

"These actions of military greatly compromised the safety of thousands of personnel and the multi-billion dollar oil facilities." He explained.

Gbasin pointed out that national crude oil production dropped from 2.2m barrel to just 700,000m barrels per day because of the deadly impacts of the militancy on oil companies operations across the Niger Delta region during the reigns of former President Musa Yar'Adua in 2007.

Gbasin said all the oil companies in the Niger Delta practically shutdown their Onshore operations.

According to him, "Many oil Export Terminals also shutdown for a long time as a result of major breaches, forcing them to declare Force majeure.

"In the face of these precarious and hostile operational environments and climate. Only Chevron Nigeria Limited operated without losing a barrel of oil both Onshore and Offshore." He noted.

Gbasin who was reacting to mass media campaign against Tompolo said, "Tompolo's support to oil production, which is the backbone of the Nigerian economy, is historical.

"His passion for the job he is contracted to do is unprecedented just as the results are immeasurable. If all the other agencies of government were to turn in such score cards like Tompolo, we can as well count our blessings that Nigeria will soon become a lender to nations.

"Therefore, anyone anywhere trying to turn the face of the Government of Mr President against such a great economic partner of the Federal Government should be seen as the real economic saboteur unmasked. 

"In some other nations of the world, the likes of Tompolo will be appreciated with a National Honour for his immense contribution towards National Economic Recovery. And it is not even too late.

"While the motives and true identities of these elements are still shrouded in the thick of darkness, the timing of their mission is even more worrisome when viewed against the very critically challenging times of our economy and the mirage of challenges Mr President battles with on a daily basis.

"When the now famous Pipeline Security Contract was awarded to Tompolo, the national crude oil production hovered around 600,000 barrels per day as a result of pipeline vandalisation and oil theft in high places. 

"But within just a few months of Tompolo's TANTITA operations, the crude oil production leaped hypersonically to a magical 1,600,000m barrels per day.

"Your Excellency Sir, by all economic and socio-political standards, this is a first of its kind feat that should be celebrated and motivated given the fact that there is no record of a single barrel of crude oil being added to the national production when this same contract exchanged hands for almost two decades before now.

"What about the several thousands of youths, adults and women across the ethnic divides of the Niger Delta Region that are on the payroll of TANTITA? The multiplier effects on families and communities are certainly beyond quantification." He added.