𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗨𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗹𝗮 𝗔𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗯𝘂 𝗧𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗘𝗸𝗽𝗲𝗺𝘂𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗼

𝗕𝗬 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗔 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘,

11𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵, 2026.

A coalition of women-led civil society organizations in the Niger Delta has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sustain the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to former Niger Delta freedom fighter, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, amid rumours that the Federal Government may be considering revoking the arrangement.

The coalition warned that removing Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited from the surveillance responsibility or decentralizing the contract could lead to a resurgence of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism across the Niger Delta region.

This position was contained in a press statement issued by Comrade (Mrs.) Tonbra Kasikoro-Kilopiritei, Executive Director of the Women Initiative for Values Empowerment and Sustainability International (WIVESINT’L), on behalf of a coalition of women-led civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, faith-based groups and community-based organizations.

According to the statement, recent campaigns and criticisms targeting Tompolo and his security outfit were allegedly being sponsored by individuals involved in illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism who seek to undermine the progress made in securing critical oil infrastructure.

The coalition noted that since the engagement of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, there has been noticeable improvement in the protection of oil pipelines and a reduction in illegal crude oil activities in the region.

They added that the company has adopted a unique strategy that combines pipeline surveillance with community engagement, particularly through the involvement of local youths and indigenes in the protection of oil facilities.

According to the women groups, this approach has helped to reduce tension in the creeks, strengthened cooperation between security operatives and host communities, and fostered a renewed sense of responsibility among residents.

The coalition also highlighted several corporate social responsibility initiatives undertaken by the company under the leadership of Government Ekpemupolo, including educational support programmes, healthcare interventions and skills acquisition initiatives targeted at women and young people in the region.

They described the initiative as a workable model for sustaining peace, protecting national assets and promoting development in the Niger Delta.

The groups therefore urged the Federal Government to continue supporting security arrangements that involve host communities in safeguarding oil infrastructure.

Other organizations in the coalition include Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), Niger Delta Rural Women Development Front, Renaissance Girl Child Women Education Support Initiative (REGWESIN), Courageous Girls Women and Children Initiative, Earth’s Love for Life Fox Initiative (ELFLFI), Indigenous Itsekiri Women for Grassroots Movement and Development, Ibom Women Environmental Transparency and Accountability, Okugbe-fe Women for Change and Development, Nightingales Jewels for Change Initiative, and Ebi-erema Political Youth Movement for Hope and Change, among others.

The coalition stressed that empowering local communities while protecting critical national assets remains essential to ensuring lasting peace, economic stability and sustainable development in the Niger Delta.