All Eyes On Tompolo As NUJ, DOPF Honour Him With Award, Vows To Boost Nation’s Oil Revenue

Niger Delta crusader and Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd (TSSNL), Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo, was cynosure of all eyes weekend when the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) conferred him with “Internal Security Meritorious Award”.

The event held at Oporoza, ancestral headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, attracted several dignitaries including Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere; former principal Secretary to former governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, President of the NUJ, Dr. Chris Isiguzo who led a team of National officers including the National Secretary of NUJ Shuaibu Leman among others.

Photo: The National President of NUJ, Dr. Chris Isiguzo (2rd from right) presenting the award to High Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo (3rd from left) on Saturday; others are, former member, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, High Chief Macdonald Igbadiwei; Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere; Principal Private Secretary to former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Dr. Hillary Obi Ibegbulem

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Speaking at the colourful event, Tompolo promised to end the reign of oil thieves sabotaging oil operations in the Niger Delta region as part of efforts to revamp the ailing economy in the country.

Tompolo noted that Nigeria is in a dire strait and needs all the support to end the activities of saboteurs of the Nigerian oil economy.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpenngr.com) reports that Tompolo was honoured in recognition of his contributions to the prevailing peace in the Niger Delta and his undying efforts to put an end to crude oil theft in the oil-rich belt.

Just few weeks ago, Tompolo security company, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) engaged by the Federal Government to curtail crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, arrested two vessels in the high sea with alleged stolen crude.

Between January and February 2024,’the private security outfit in conjunction with the Federal Government security agencies, impounded MT Kali and MT Harbor Spirit vessels while illegally siphoning crude oil in Bayelsa.

Consequently, two Federal High Courts sitting in Abuja, recently ordered the forfeiture of the heavy Ocean-going liner to the Federal Government.

The courts also ordered the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL), to sell the stolen crude oil contained in the vessels.

Veteran Niger Delta journalist, Asiwaju Sola Adebayo in a handshake with Tompolo

Earlier, the National President of the NiJ, Dr. Chris Isiguzo said that the award was in recognition of Tompolo’s outstanding contributions to safeguarding the security of oil and gas infrastructure by curtailing oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta.

Receiving the award, Tompolo vowed to help secure oil and gas facilities in order to boost the national economy, pointing out that “I don’t have any other country to call my own except Nigeria.

“Nigeria is the only country I have, so we must all join hands to protect and move Nigeria forward.

“Our economy is not in good stead . We must all rise up to occasion to revive it. We cannot fold our hands and allow a few persons to sabotage the nation’s economy for personal gains.

He appreciated the leadership of NUJ for recognizing his modest contributions to economic development just as he promised not to rest on his oars .

Presenting the award on behalf of the union, Isiguzor said the national executive after due consultations arrived at conferring the meritorious award on Tompolo for his contributions towards security , success in talking economic sabotage head long and economic recovery.

He said Tompolo has set the pace in securing Nigeria’s oil and gas facilities from the throes of economic insecurity in the Niger Delta region.

Isiguzor therefore urged the media, security agencies and Nigerians alike to cooperate with Tompolo in the task of eradicating oil thieves forthwith.

The NUJ boss stated: “Somebody has risen to the occasion and gathered an array of young men who have taken it upon themselves to help this country continue to survive as a peaceful nation, united and continue to fend for its people.

“And that is the man that has, to a very large extent, substantially, helped us address the issue of crude oil theft.

“That is one thing that has occupied our national life over time. By his commitment, dedication and diligence, Nigeria, as a country, has to a very large extent, reduced the activities of men of the underworld who have consistently engaged in pilfering, taking our common patrimony for their personal gains.

“The NUJ, having assessed the activities of TSSNL, has decided that we must accord the necessary recognition to the man who carries the flag, birthed this security organization, who has exceptionally distinguished himself.

“The NUJ has come to the Oporoza Community in Gbaramatu Kingdom to honour a distinguished son of the Niger Delta; a general in his own right who has distinguished himself, ensures and maintains an appreciable level of internal security.

“We have come to confer on him, the Internal Security Meritorious Award of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.

“In the course of the national security conference, held in Abuja, only one award had been approved and it is conferred on Dr Government Ekpemupolo”.

Isiguzo added : “I’m also excited that I’m doing this after 61 years of the existence of the NUJ, this award is coming up at this time.

“It is not just an honour to Tompolo but also an honour to me too. It is an honour to all of us and what that means is that the issue of insecurity is not just the responsibility of government but of every Nigerian.

“When you provide information, and intelligence to security operatives and agencies, you have contributed in some measures to reducing the problem of insecurity in the land.

“So, it is a collective responsibility, and all hands must be on deck to ensure we address our problems.

“If Nigeria is peaceful, every part of the country, including your household, will be peaceful and that will give birth to development and progress.

He enjoined his colleagues; Journalists to keep contributing their quota by sharing intelligence with security agencies and operatives in order to engender peace, harmony and progress in the country.

Similarly, Tompolo was also inducted by the Delta Online Publishers Forum into the DOPF Niger Delta Media Hall of Fame at the event.

The official induction and presentation were done by the DOPF’s Board of Trustee (BoT) Chairman, Chief Omafume Amurun.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of DOPF, Mr. Emmanuel Enebeli, ANIPR, noted that it was sequenced to an overwhelming vote of the people of the Niger Delta Region in an Online poll, conducted within a period of four months beginning from June 2021 – October 2021.

Enebeli said Ekpemupolo’s selection for this prestigious Honour was also based on his uncommon struggles and determinations towards the liberation of the Niger Delta Region from economic and environmental degradation, political and social marginalization, and stagnation.

In his response, High Chief Ekpemupolo, who appreciated members of the DOPF in a piece recognizing his good stands and inducting him into the Niger Delta Media Hall of Fame, said his Award and recognition should spur others to rise up to defend and protect Government properties and facilities within their territory.