Former Nigerian militants get contracts to curb oil theft
Theft and pipeline sabotage have cut Nigeria’s oil exports by nearly half a million barrels per day
26 August 2022 - 17:32
byTife Owolabi
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Yenagoa, Nigeria — Nigeria's state oil company has hired a company owned by former militant Tompolo, whose movement’s attacks on facilities in the early 2000s crippled oil production, to protect installations and tackle rampant theft, his spokesperson said.
It was one of five security contracts awarded as theft and pipeline sabotage have cut Nigeria’s oil exports by nearly half a million barrels per day to 1.4-million bpd.
Tompolo, whose real name is Government Ekpemupolo, once lead the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) , which made frequent attacks until a government amnesty programme gave some militants contracts to protect oil installations.
Attacks resumed in 2016, not long after the government issued an arrest warrant for Tompolo on corruption charges.
Paul Ebbenimibo, a spokesperson for Tompolo, said the companies would protect pipelines Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Ondo and Imo states.
Ebbenimibo said that Tompolo told others in the region to stop stealing from the pipelines and accept security jobs to enable the economy in the region to bounce back.
An NNPC source confirmed the contracts but the state oil company did not comment when reached by Reuters. Spokespersons for Bayelsa, Delta and Imo state said they were aware of the contracts but did not know details. Spokespersons for Edo and Ondo did not comment.
Ebbenimibo said the companies were Global West, owned by Tompolo, Ocean Marine Solutions, Labrador Security Outfit, Asari Dokubo and a fifth undisclosed company.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Former Nigerian militants get contracts to curb oil theft
Theft and pipeline sabotage have cut Nigeria’s oil exports by nearly half a million barrels per day
Yenagoa, Nigeria — Nigeria's state oil company has hired a company owned by former militant Tompolo, whose movement’s attacks on facilities in the early 2000s crippled oil production, to protect installations and tackle rampant theft, his spokesperson said.
It was one of five security contracts awarded as theft and pipeline sabotage have cut Nigeria’s oil exports by nearly half a million barrels per day to 1.4-million bpd.
Tompolo, whose real name is Government Ekpemupolo, once lead the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) , which made frequent attacks until a government amnesty programme gave some militants contracts to protect oil installations.
Attacks resumed in 2016, not long after the government issued an arrest warrant for Tompolo on corruption charges.
Paul Ebbenimibo, a spokesperson for Tompolo, said the companies would protect pipelines Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Ondo and Imo states.
Ebbenimibo said that Tompolo told others in the region to stop stealing from the pipelines and accept security jobs to enable the economy in the region to bounce back.
An NNPC source confirmed the contracts but the state oil company did not comment when reached by Reuters. Spokespersons for Bayelsa, Delta and Imo state said they were aware of the contracts but did not know details. Spokespersons for Edo and Ondo did not comment.
Ebbenimibo said the companies were Global West, owned by Tompolo, Ocean Marine Solutions, Labrador Security Outfit, Asari Dokubo and a fifth undisclosed company.
Reuters
GRACELIN BASKARAN: Intra-African trade the answer to food and fuel shortages
Restrictions on Russian oil causes soaring fuel prices and shortages
More than 100 perish in explosion at Nigerian illegal oil refinery
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.