Former militant leaders in the Niger Delta
Government Ekpemukpolo (a.k.a. Tompolo) and Ateke Tom have begun talks with the
federal government on the renewal of oil pipeline surveillance contract which
expired last year.
Government Ekpemukpolo (a.k.a. Tompolo) and Ateke Tom have begun talks with the
federal government on the renewal of oil pipeline surveillance contract which
expired last year.
The federal government team negotiating the
new contract terms with the ex militants is led by the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). It was learnt that more ex-militants would
benefit from the new contracts because of the growing opposition to the federal
government’s selection of a few leaders of the former agitators for the
multi-billion-naira contracts.
new contract terms with the ex militants is led by the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). It was learnt that more ex-militants would
benefit from the new contracts because of the growing opposition to the federal
government’s selection of a few leaders of the former agitators for the
multi-billion-naira contracts.
LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that the renewal
of the contract for the pipeline protection is at an advanced stage — the
management of the NNPC and the ex-militant leaders are close to reaching a
deal.
of the contract for the pipeline protection is at an advanced stage — the
management of the NNPC and the ex-militant leaders are close to reaching a
deal.
An official of the NNPC who sought anonymity
confirmed that the contract expired last year and that talks were on with the
former militants to renew it. “If the ex-militants disclosed to you that they
are negotiating with the NNPC, your story is true,” he said and declined
further details.
confirmed that the contract expired last year and that talks were on with the
former militants to renew it. “If the ex-militants disclosed to you that they
are negotiating with the NNPC, your story is true,” he said and declined
further details.
Several phone calls and other efforts made by
LEADERSHIP Weekend to get an affirmative position from the ex-militant leaders
including Tompolo and Pastor Reuben on the renewal of the contract with the
NNPC met a brick wall.
LEADERSHIP Weekend to get an affirmative position from the ex-militant leaders
including Tompolo and Pastor Reuben on the renewal of the contract with the
NNPC met a brick wall.
The cost of the expired pipeline surveillance
contract is put at N5.6 billion. It was awarded by the government to the
ex-militants to check oil theft in the once volatile region, but oil theft has
persisted, leading to Nigeria losing 600, 000 barrels daily.
contract is put at N5.6 billion. It was awarded by the government to the
ex-militants to check oil theft in the once volatile region, but oil theft has
persisted, leading to Nigeria losing 600, 000 barrels daily.
A breakdown of the last pipeline protection
contract entered into with the ex-militant leaders showed that Mujaheed
Dokubo-Asari got $9 million yearly to pay his 4,000 former foot soldiers to
protect the pipelines.
contract entered into with the ex-militant leaders showed that Mujaheed
Dokubo-Asari got $9 million yearly to pay his 4,000 former foot soldiers to
protect the pipelines.
Ebikabowei “Boyloaf” Victor Ben and Ateke Tom
got $3.8 million a year apiece to have their men guard the pipelines, while
Government “Tompolo” Ekpmupolo had a $22.9 million a year contract to do the
same job.
got $3.8 million a year apiece to have their men guard the pipelines, while
Government “Tompolo” Ekpmupolo had a $22.9 million a year contract to do the
same job.
According to sources, the NNPC evaluation of
the performance of the ex-militant leaders showed a poor rating with Tompolo
rated highest as “using the contract as directed to protect the pipelines in
the Delta”.
the performance of the ex-militant leaders showed a poor rating with Tompolo
rated highest as “using the contract as directed to protect the pipelines in
the Delta”.
Scope of proposed contract
LEADERSHIP Weekend learnt that the proposed
contract would include other ex-militant leaders that were left out in the last
exercise. Already, some of them haved formed themselves into groups under a
supervisory committee of security operatives, oil company executives and
ex-militants to ensure full compliance with the contract terms.
contract would include other ex-militant leaders that were left out in the last
exercise. Already, some of them haved formed themselves into groups under a
supervisory committee of security operatives, oil company executives and
ex-militants to ensure full compliance with the contract terms.
Each leader of the former militants in the
Niger Delta states, it was further learnt, may be selected to pilot the
contract in their states. Edo State, according to sources, may be left out of
it.
Niger Delta states, it was further learnt, may be selected to pilot the
contract in their states. Edo State, according to sources, may be left out of
it.
Both the former militant leaders and an NNPC
source could not confirm the contract value, but they said it would be higher
than the old one.
source could not confirm the contract value, but they said it would be higher
than the old one.
Oil production at the peak of militants’
activities in the Niger Delta was at 1.3 million barrels per day while output
increased progressively up to 2.7 million barrels per day after the amnesty
programme and the award of pipelines surveillance contracts.
activities in the Niger Delta was at 1.3 million barrels per day while output
increased progressively up to 2.7 million barrels per day after the amnesty
programme and the award of pipelines surveillance contracts.
Since the beginning of this year, oil theft
and pipeline vandalism have risen with Shell Petroleum Development Company
(SPDC) recently shutting down the Imo River trunk line in its eastern operation
and reduced production by 25,000 barrels daily. Several crude theft points were
found on the facility.
and pipeline vandalism have risen with Shell Petroleum Development Company
(SPDC) recently shutting down the Imo River trunk line in its eastern operation
and reduced production by 25,000 barrels daily. Several crude theft points were
found on the facility.
It was learnt that the former militants are
seeking the inclusion of the Amnesty Office in the pipeline surveillance contract
as some of them faulted the restriction of the office to the training of the
ex-agitators.
seeking the inclusion of the Amnesty Office in the pipeline surveillance contract
as some of them faulted the restriction of the office to the training of the
ex-agitators.
Kennedy West, president of the Association for
Non-Violence in the Niger Delta (ANND), confirmed this when he told LEADERSHIP
Weekend that the federal government missed the point in excluding the office of
the special adviser to the president on Niger Delta and chairman of
Presidential Amnesty Committee from the pipeline surveillance deal.
Non-Violence in the Niger Delta (ANND), confirmed this when he told LEADERSHIP
Weekend that the federal government missed the point in excluding the office of
the special adviser to the president on Niger Delta and chairman of
Presidential Amnesty Committee from the pipeline surveillance deal.
An official of the Amnesty Office confirmed
that the federal government was renegotiating the surveillance contract because
“some people just want things to be done anyhow”. The official said that the
Amnesty Office was not involved in the pipeline surveillance contract. He said:
“We are not involved in capital projects under the amnesty scheme. Our mandate
is the training of the former militants. I don’t know the cost of the expired
contract and the new one purportedly being negotiated with the ex-militants
because it is not under our jurisdiction.”
that the federal government was renegotiating the surveillance contract because
“some people just want things to be done anyhow”. The official said that the
Amnesty Office was not involved in the pipeline surveillance contract. He said:
“We are not involved in capital projects under the amnesty scheme. Our mandate
is the training of the former militants. I don’t know the cost of the expired
contract and the new one purportedly being negotiated with the ex-militants
because it is not under our jurisdiction.”
Meanwhile, hundreds of youths involved in
illegal oil bunkering in the creeks and waterways of the Niger Delta have
called on the government to release the over 257 of their members arrested of
by the operatives of the Joint Military Task Force known as Operation Pulo
Shield and other security agents. They said they are not “oil thieves but
businessmen providing employment for youths in the region”.
illegal oil bunkering in the creeks and waterways of the Niger Delta have
called on the government to release the over 257 of their members arrested of
by the operatives of the Joint Military Task Force known as Operation Pulo
Shield and other security agents. They said they are not “oil thieves but
businessmen providing employment for youths in the region”.
In a statement sent to LEADERSHIP Weekend in
Yenagoa, the national president of the Ijaw People Development Initiative
(IPDI), Comrade Ozobo Austin, the president of the Committee for Rural
Development Movement, Mr Asiaye Enaibo, the president of the Niger Delta Peace
Initiatives, Comrade Newstyle Ogirenwarekame, the National Council of Ijaw
Activists (NACIA), Alhaji Yusuf Eregbene, and the coordinator of the Niger
Delta Ethnic Nationality Initiative (NENF), Comrade Napoleon Peretoru urged the
government to consider the request for amnesty by the illegal refinery
operators because they create employment and empowerment opportunities for youths
in the region.
Yenagoa, the national president of the Ijaw People Development Initiative
(IPDI), Comrade Ozobo Austin, the president of the Committee for Rural
Development Movement, Mr Asiaye Enaibo, the president of the Niger Delta Peace
Initiatives, Comrade Newstyle Ogirenwarekame, the National Council of Ijaw
Activists (NACIA), Alhaji Yusuf Eregbene, and the coordinator of the Niger
Delta Ethnic Nationality Initiative (NENF), Comrade Napoleon Peretoru urged the
government to consider the request for amnesty by the illegal refinery
operators because they create employment and empowerment opportunities for youths
in the region.
But the authorities of the Joint Military Task
Force known as Operation Restore Hope through the data provided by its media
coordinator, Lt-Col. Nwachukwu, said, “We have reduced the activities of
illegal bunkerers in the form of crude oil theft, theft of refined petroleum
products by vandalising pipelines and well-heads, as well as illegal
distillation of crude oil (illegal refinery) to produce adulterated Automated
Gas Oil (AGO).”
Force known as Operation Restore Hope through the data provided by its media
coordinator, Lt-Col. Nwachukwu, said, “We have reduced the activities of
illegal bunkerers in the form of crude oil theft, theft of refined petroleum
products by vandalising pipelines and well-heads, as well as illegal
distillation of crude oil (illegal refinery) to produce adulterated Automated
Gas Oil (AGO).”
Source:
Leadership
Leadership
