The National President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr, has lauded High Chief. Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo for his frantic efforts in restoring peace in the Niger Delta region through his pipeline surveillance contract job by empowering thousands of youths, men and women in the region over the last three years, while appealing to the Federal Government for expansion of the scope of Tantita Security Services and Maton Engineering contracts.
Lokpobiri made the commendation and appeal on Tuesday at the Community Critical Stakeholders Appreciation meeting held at the EUI Event Centre in Port Harcourt City, courtesy by Tantita Security Services Limited and Maton Engineering Nig Limited, two major oil and gas infrastructure surveillance contractors in the region.
The ceremony’s mandate was to review significant progress and officially appreciate the vital role community leaders and traditional rulers play in securing Nigeria’s critical energy assets.
Addressing a room filled with traditional leaders, security chiefs, and youth representatives, Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr lauded the host companies for their consistently increasing capacity, which he directly linked to a crucial boost in Nigeria’s daily oil production figures.
The IYC President then made a powerful and sincere acknowledgement of Chief Government Oweizide Ekpempolo (Tompolo), recognizing his “huge sacrifices and role in the sustenance of peace and security in the Niger Delta region.”
“His name resonates positively with all sons and daughters of the region, especially given his background of the arms struggle,” Lokpobiri stated emphatically. “Today we are enjoying relative peace and security in the region courtesy of his efforts.”
Building on the proven success of the security contracts, the IYC leader pivoted to a demand for strategic expansion. Sir Lokpobiri strongly appealed to the Federal Government to significantly increase the funding and mandate of Tantita Security Services and Maton Engineering.
He argued that their capacity should be expanded beyond securing pipelines and oil infrastructure to include the protection of Terminals and well heads, ensuring they can continue to deliver maximally on national security and production goals.
Furthermore, Lokpobiri issued a passionate call for environmental equity, urging the Federal Government to immediately extend the ongoing cleanup exercise in Ogoniland to all communities across the entire Niger Delta region. He stressed that these host communities are negatively affected by daily oil exploration activities and deserve comprehensive remediation.
In commending the contractors’ leadership for their “human face” approach in involving critical community stakeholders, Sir Lokpobiri confirmed that the Niger Delta environment is “gradually healing” from the widespread damage caused by illegal oil bunkering and oil theft.
The high-level attendance underscored the deep commitment of regional stakeholders to maintaining this trajectory of peace and infrastructure protections.
