The pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has caused apprehension in the Niger Delta.
Tompolo is expected to lead the protection of oil pipelines across the six South-South States – Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Rivers.
Despite an initial stiff stance, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration engaged Tompolo due to increasing oil theft in the region.
The deal was sealed by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
