Dickson Lauds Tompolo”s Efforts In Fight Against Oil Theft, Environmental Degradation

Ogheneruona Tejiri, Oporoza

High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo determined efforts in securing the nation’s oil pipelines and by extension war against environmental degradation has been commended.

This commendation was given by Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, former Governor of Bayelsa State and Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District in the Senate in Oporoza, headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta State during a courtesy visit to the Kingdom to formally express solidarity with the kingdom which he described as his people.

The former Governor of Bayelsa State said that Tompolo”s Efforts in curbing crude oil theft as well as environmental degradation using his Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), a private oil pipelines surveillance company contracted by the Federal Government is commendable and deserves a lot of encouragement.

Accordng to Senator Dickson who refers to Tompolo, Chairman, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) as his younger brother, “Iam using this opportunity to call on the Federal Government and all concerned authorities to give him the much needed support and cooperation to succeed more in the fight against crude oil theft, as well as curbing environmental degradation in the region thus restoring aquatic lives to the Niger Delta waters. A lot still has to be done. So, I want to encourage him (Tompolo) now that I am here. I have seen development myself. I want to encourage him to do more”.

He added, “Tompolo also deserves accolades over the contributions being made by his Security firm in stopping vandalism to strategic national assets within the territory and also for reducing illegal bunkering and environmental degradation occasioned by the illegal refineries and those operating it.”
While describing Gbaramatu Kingdom as a strategic part of Ijaw nation, Niger Delta and Nigeria, Senator Dickson acknowledged President Bola Tinubu and the Nigeria National Petrolatum Company Limited(NNPCL) management for the confidence reposed in Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) and called for the sustenance of the partnership for improved services.

Senator Dickson spoke further, “I want to express my appreciation to President Tinubu, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPCL and all stakeholders for working with Tompolo. The good thing that the Federal Government, the NNPCL and all the agencies have done is by engaging a man who understands the physical terrain and also the operating environment. All the systems he knows them. And that’s why he and his people have been able to bring some semblance of normalcy.

“I think that that partnership needs to be strengthened, sustained and expanded so that Tantita can do more.
Stopping pilfering of crude oil and vandalism is one thing. But we are also bothered about the environmental degradation of our region. This is our area. This is where we live. And for the Ijaw man, these rivers you see are our life because our lives depend on our waters. Hence, polluting our waterways, our rivers and our creeks is a major existential threat to our people.

“And so, we thank Tompolo and his colleagues in Tantita and I encourage the security agencies to collaborate more with them and NNPCL to strengthen that partnership and extend it so that they can do more for our people”.

Senator Dickson also commended the traditional ruler(Pere) of Gbaramatu kingdom, His Imperial Majesty Oboro-Gbaraun II, (Aketekpe, Agadagba)and the Ijaw people for maintaining order, peace and stability in the Niger Delta region.

Responding, the traditional ruler of the Gbaramatu kingdom, His Imperial Majesty Oboro-Gbaraun Ii, (Aketekpe, Agadagba)expressed gratitude to Senator Dickson for the visit, he called on them to be closer to the Kingdom, being an Ijaw leader himself.

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