A Niger Delta activist, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, has restated his commitment to end the criminal theft of the nation’s crude oil resources.
Tompolo spoke when the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, conferred an award on him for his contributions in the campaign against oil theft in the country.
Chairman of Tantita Security Services Limited, which is involved in the pipeline protection project in the Niger Delta, Tompolo was conferred with the NUJ’s Internal Security Meritorious Award.
Speaking after receiving the award, Tompolo stressed that the country “was in serious need of concerted support to stop the activities of those sabotaging the economy for personal gains”.
“I will do everything within my power to see that crude oil production increases,” he added.
The National President of the NUJ, Chris Isiguzo, said that the award was in recognition of the contributions of Tompolo and his firm, TSSL, to the campaign against crude oil theft in the country.
Recently, Tantita Security Services Limited working alongside the Navy, the Police and others, has intensified the campaign against the theft of the nation’s oil resources by arresting and ensuring the forfeiture of vessels used in the committing the crime.
Isiguzo led the national leadership of the NUJ to confer the award on Tompolo in Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, on Saturday.
According to Isiguzo, the Internal Security Meritorious award was approved during the NUJ’s National Security Conference in Abuja.
He said, “When you provide information, and intelligence to security operatives and agencies, you have contributed in some measures to reducing the problem of insecurity in the land.
“So, it is a collective responsibility, and all hands must be on deck to ensure we address our problems.”
He recalled that the Union’s National Security Conference, meant to examine the worsening security situation in the country, was attended by former Inspector General of Police, and Chairman Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Dr Solomon Arase, the Minister of the Federal Capital Terrritory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, and a diverse segment of Nigerians.
Isiguzo said that a position paper, containing recommendations from the conference, on the issue of security, will be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu.