March 29, 2024

Arewa Youth groups give FG 7 days to revoke Tompolo’s pipeline surveillance contract

Samuel Agbenusi

A coalition of 225 youth groups in the North operating under the aegis of Amalgamated Arewa Youth have vowed to disrupt operations at the NNPC headquarters in Abuja, if the multi-million dollar pipeline surveillance contract given to Chief Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, Commander of the defunct Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) is not revoked in seven(7) days.

The protesters who stormed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC Ltd.) Headquarters on Monday carrying banners with different inscriptions blamed the Federal Government and the Nigerian Army for romancing with Niger Delta militants.

EnergyDay recalled that the Government had allegedly renewed the pipeline surveillance contract to Tompolo and his men.

According to Duniya, the development is coming at a time the North is bleeding profusely due to activities of terrorist elements, while youths are not allowed to get weapons to defend their communities.

The Coalition demanded the sack of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Mele Kyari and Group Executive Director, Upstream, Adokiye Tombomelye, over the roles they played in the contract procedures.

“We are aware that Tompolo and his boys are major beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), wherein the Federal Government under the leadership of the late President, Umaru Yar’Adua extended same to the restive youths of the Niger Delta.

“Till date, supposed ex-agitators are being sponsored to world-class universities, others are being trained to acquire skills, while those with established businesses are constantly being empowered.

“Our group attributes the increasing bunkering and the subsequent award of the contentious contract to either inability of our armed forces and other security agencies to curtail the menace or possible internal collusion. This has led to the outsourcing of their jobs to private citizens,” Duniya said.

Garba Deen Muhammad, NNPC spokesperson, was not responding to call and text message as at the period of filling this report.