Ex-Militant To Receive NUJ National Merit Award Over Fight Against Crude Oil Theft In Niger Delta

As a dividend for his courage and fight against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) is set to honor the former leader of the now-defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo, with the Union’s national merit award.

The award, which is rarely given by the national leadership of the NUJ, will be conferred on Tompolo in February during the Union’s  forthcoming annual conference holding in Abuja, in February, in recognition of his contribution to the sustenance of peace and the successes in the war against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

National President of NUJ, Comrade Chris Isiguzo, disclosed on Saturday when he led the national leadership of the Union on a visit to Oporoza in Gbaramtu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

Comrade Isiguzo noted that Tompolo through his private security company, Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL) has saved the country trillions of naira hitherto lost to the activities of crude oil thieves operating in the Niger Delta waterways.

The NUJ President also noted that the former militant has also helped to sustain the relative peace in the Niger Delta.

He noted that the apex body of journalists in the country has understudy his contributions to nation building and therefore had resolved to honour him with the Union’s prestigious national merit award in February.

Isiguzo, while briefing Tompolo and his aides, said in arriving at the decision, the NUJ profiled the activities of the former militia, especially his involvement in the restoration of a lasting peace in the region.

He further hailed hailed Tompolo for his relentless commitment to put an end to the menace of crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other sharp practices associated with exploration of crude oil and production as well as transportation of petroleum products.

According to the NUJ president, Tompolo, through the instrumentality of his pipelines surveillance company, Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL), the nation’s waterways have become a nightmare for criminal elements and economic saboteurs.

Isiguzo recalled some giant strides recorded by TSSL under the leadership of Tompolo in the manhunt for the oil buccaneers and illicit oil barons along the nation’s waterwaysespecially the recent arrest of MT Kali, illegally siphoining crude oil from Pennington Oil field of the Anglo-Dutch energy giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Bayelsa State.

Isiguzo admitted that with the patriotic zeal of TSSL in the pursuit of the oil thieves, the nation’s crude oil production was on steady rise, adding that this development “is ultimately pushing the nation on the path of sustainable economic recovery and prosperity.”

Isiguzo said the NUJ aligned with other stakeholders within and outside the country, who have poured ecomiums and accolades on TSSL and its operators for satisfactorily performing its oversight functions over the surveillance and protection of the nation’s economic assets.

He said, “Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, the NUJ has profiled your activities and we are impressed by your patriotic zeal to ensure that Nigeria works again by your pursuit of those pilfering the nation’s oil wealth. The NUJ is glad to note that crude oil production is gradually on the rise and we can meet the OPEC quota with ease. With more revenue from additional crude oil production, we can have more money to run our money.”

“The NUJ also acknowledges the prevailing peace in the Niger Delta for which you have played pivotal roles. For these significant contributions you have made towards the nation’s growth and development, the NUJ has decided to honour you with one of our prestigious awards.”

“We are here to formally intimate you about the decision by the NUJ to accord you this well-deserved honour. To demonstrate the seriousness attached to this engagement, I have with me the National Secretary, Mr. Shuaibu Usman Leman as well other leaders of the NUJ from the state council and Warri chapter of the association .”

“We seize this opportunity to also formally invite you to the investiture and presentation of the awards during our national conference in Abuja in February,” Isiguzo added.

Responding, Tompolo, who was joined to receive the NUJ delegation by a former member of Bayelsa State House Assembly, representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 4, Chief Macdonald Igbadiwei and his Media Adviser, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, expressed gratitude to the NUJ for the honour accorded.

The ex-militant leader said he was elated that a strategic stakeholders in the Nigeria project such as NUJ has recognised and appreciated his contributions to national development and singled him out for the award.

Tompolo assured the NUJ and Nigerians that the award would spur and trigger him to do more for the country.

The NUJ President was accompanied on the visit by the National Secretary, Mr. Shuaibu Usman Leman; immediate past Chairman of Delta State Council, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu; renowned veteran journalist, Asiwaju Sola Adebayo among others.