By Obinna Uballa
Government Ekpemupolo, the former Niger Delta militant leader widely known as Tompolo, is fighting to maintain control of a pipeline protection contract worth around N48 billion ($35 million) annually, amid a review of Nigeria’s approach to oil theft and sabotage under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The contract, held by Tompolo’s Tantita Security Services, has become one of the most politically sensitive arrangements in Nigeria’s oil sector. Its scale and the central role of a private firm linked to a powerful regional figure have made it a flashpoint in national security discussions.
According to Africa Intelligence in a report, Tompolo is leveraging his relationships in both Abuja and the Delta region to defend the deal, arguing that his outfit possesses the local intelligence and community networks necessary to disrupt oil theft syndicates operating deep in the creeks and along export routes. Rival interests in the Delta are also pressing claims, turning the review into a quiet but high-stakes contest over influence, territory, and revenue.
Tompolo’s role illustrates a broader transformation in the post-amnesty Niger Delta. Once a key commander in militant operations that disrupted oil production, he has rebranded as a security partner, tasked with safeguarding the very infrastructure he once targeted. Proponents argue that local knowledge and community ties offer an edge conventional enforcement has often lacked.
But critics caution against outsourcing such sensitive security functions to private actors. Concerns include weak oversight, blurred authority, and the creation of parallel power structures, particularly in areas where the government’s presence is limited and local politics intersect with control over waterways.
The contract’s financial scale amplifies the stakes. At roughly N48 billion annually, it funds extensive surveillance, equipment, logistics, and personnel. It also wields indirect influence through local subcontracting and employment, a critical factor in the Delta, where patronage often dictates loyalty and community support.
The review coincides with the Tinubu administration’s push to boost oil output and government revenue. Pipeline sabotage, illegal refining, and crude theft have repeatedly disrupted production and exports, denting public finances and foreign exchange inflows.
Observers say any adjustment to security arrangements will be judged on its effectiveness in stabilizing production and reducing losses.
Potential changes could include stricter performance targets, they note, splitting the territory among multiple contractors, or transferring more responsibility to state security agencies. Each option carries political and economic implications, potentially redrawing the balance of power in the Delta and prompting rivalry among local actors.
For his part, Tompolo , it was gathered, is framing his continued involvement as vital to preventing disruption. Opponents argue that the contract should be restructured or reassigned to broaden oversight and reduce concentration of influence.
