Breaking: Ex-Militant Leaders Forge Alliance Against Oil Theft In Niger Delta....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

An unprecedented alignment of influential stakeholders and former adversaries is unfolding in the Niger Delta as part of President Bola Tinubu’s economic recovery program. Key ex-militant leaders and members of the “Big Five” convened in Rivers State to form a united front against oil theft and illegal bunkering.
The meeting, attended by prominent figures from the nine Niger Delta states, took place at the Okochiri Palace of King Ateke Tom in Okirika Local Government Area.

Ex-militant leaders in attendance included King Michael Ateke Tom, High Chief Ajube Bibopiri (known as General Shoot-at-Sight), Victor Ben Ebukabowei (alias General Boyloaf), and Alhaji Asari Dokubo, who is known for his support of President Tinubu.
The gathering marks a significant departure from the prolonged enmity between King Ateke and Dokubo, signaling a fresh beginning in their common interest to protect the Niger Delta and the nation’s economy.

Sources close to the ex-militant leaders revealed that the meeting’s focus was on combating oil theft and the best approaches to execute pipeline contracts for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

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The former creek warlords advocated for the decentralization of NNPCL pipeline surveillance contracts as a permanent solution to economic sabotage. They emphasized that these contracts should be allocated to them in their respective areas or states of influence, rather than being awarded to a single firm or individual.One confidential source stated, “Those in attendance shared the objective of intensifying their efforts to combat oil theft in the area and agreed the contract to be decentralized. It is apparent that it marked a unified front against the persistent problem of oil theft in the region.

The stakeholders are resolute in their commitment to boost collaborative endeavors aimed at safeguarding the pipelines and the interests of the NNPCL.This collaborative approach has the potential to be a turning point in the ongoing struggle against oil theft, with far-reaching benefits for the entire region and the Nigerian economy.
The ex-militant leaders’ stance aligns with the position taken by Rivers State Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, who opposed the practice of awarding all pipeline surveillance contracts to a single individual.

Fubara emphasized the need to involve key individuals from various communities in securing pipeline infrastructure.
It is worth noting that the NNPCL has recently renewed the pipeline surveillance contract of Tantita Security Service Limited, owned by former militant leader Government Ekpumpolo, popularly known as Tompolo, for another three years.

While the details of the renewal remain undisclosed, it is believed that additional responsibilities, including offshore surveillance, have been included in the renewed contract.
In August 2022, Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, defended the government’s decision to award a pipeline surveillance contract valued at N48 billion to Tantita Security Services, led by Tompolo.