The Kaduna-based Concerned Northern Forum has called for the immediate termination of the N4bn Pipeline Surveillance Contract awarded to ex-Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd.
Chairman of the Forum Ibrahim Bature, who addressed the newsmen, explained the contract award is misleading and sending a wrong message to Nigerian youth, adding that the contract award would imply that it was better to be “thugs, fugitive than a loyal citizen.”
Bature led officials and members of the organization in large numbers at the Arewa House, Kaduna, on Sunday, to address the press conference, telling the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the NNPC LTD, describing oil and gas thefts as outrageous.
Bature asked northerners to defend themselves against banditry, kidnapping, and other related crimes while urging the National Assembly to declare its findings on the ongoing subsidy probe after the 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 needs 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,” he said.
