Supporters of former Niger Delta militant leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, have accused illegal oil operators of pushing for the cancellation of pipeline surveillance contracts linked to him.

The claim was made by the PBAT Door-2-Door Movement during a rally in Abuja, organized in support of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

Speaking to journalists, the group’s National Coordinator, Sunday Asuku, said critics of the contracts were motivated by personal interests.

“Those calling for the contracts to be revoked or split are acting against Nigeria’s interest,” he said. “They are oil thieves unhappy that Tompolo’s security measures are protecting pipelines and increasing crude output.”

Asuku added that the work done under Tompolo’s supervision has reduced losses from oil theft and improved pipeline efficiency. He urged the government to maintain the contracts, saying his group supports Tompolo’s continued involvement.

The debate comes as some regional leaders and youth organizations have called for pipeline surveillance to be more evenly distributed among local communities, warning that concentrating contracts with a few individuals could create unrest in the Niger Delta.

Asuku also appealed for patience with the Tinubu administration, noting that correcting decades of mismanagement in the oil sector and national economy would take time. He pledged that the PBAT Door-2-Door Movement would continue mobilizing nationwide support for the president’s re-election.

The issue highlights ongoing tensions in the Niger Delta over pipeline security, resource control, and efforts to combat oil theft in the oil-rich region.
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