Tinubu Moves to Revoke Tompolo’s $144 Million Pipeline Surveillance Contract as APC Chieftain Issues Urgent Caution

Fresh Uncertainty Grips Niger Delta as Presidency Reviews Multi-Billion-Naira Oil Security Deal

There are growing indications that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is moving to revoke the multi-billion-naira pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, and other private operators in the Niger Delta.

Ejes Gist News gathered that the contract, reportedly valued at approximately N48 billion annually—now about $144 million following an upward review—forms part of the Federal Government’s strategy to combat crude oil theft, illegal refining, and pipeline vandalism in the oil-producing region.

The review specifically targets Tantita Security Services Limited, the firm owned by Tompolo and his brothers, which has been at the forefront of the surveillance framework since its inception under the previous administration.

The Key Players

The surveillance arrangement involves several influential figures in the Niger Delta:

The contract has become one of the most politically sensitive elements of Nigeria’s oil security architecture—both because of its financial scale and its reliance on private security operators with deep regional influence.

Ejes Gist News reports that the upward review of the contract, which Tompolo and his brothers reportedly kept from public knowledge, has intensified rivalry among former militant leaders and other regional power brokers. Some are said to be seeking a share of the surveillance framework or advocating for its complete restructuring.

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Why the Review?

Inside sources indicate that the Federal Government’s review is part of a broader reassessment of measures aimed at increasing crude oil production and stabilizing export volumes.

Ejes Gist News learned that oil theft and sabotage have continued to affect output, with Nigeria failing to meet its 1.5 million barrels per day (mbpd) crude oil production quota approved by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). This shortfall carries significant implications for public revenue and foreign exchange inflows.

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The Debate: Retain or Revoke?

Arguments for Retention

Supporters of the current model argue that local operators possess community knowledge and intelligence networks that federal agencies lack, particularly in difficult creek terrain. They contend that engaging indigenous firms has helped reduce vandalism in certain areas.

The arrangement reportedly led to:

• Identification and dismantling of illegal tapping points

• Destruction of illicit refining camps

• Interception of unauthorized crude transport channels

• Improved stability along major trunk lines

Arguments for Revocation or Restructuring

Critics have raised concerns about:

• Oversight and transparency in contract execution

• Concentration of influence in the hands of a few individuals

• Exclusion of other stakeholders from the benefits

• Financial scale of the contract

Some stakeholders in the region have called for either a restructuring to ensure broader participation by additional firms or a total revocation of the contract in its entirety.

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APC Chieftain Issues Strong Warning

Amid the uncertainty, a legal practitioner and APC chieftain, Blessing Agbomhere, has urged the Federal Government to retain the pipeline surveillance contract, describing it as a strategic national instrument critical to Nigeria’s economic stability and security architecture.

In a public communication addressed to President Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, and the leadership of the National Assembly, Agbomhere argued that the surveillance framework has substantially curtailed crude oil theft and strengthened output in the Niger Delta.

“This is not conjecture; it is an empirical reality,” he said, citing renewed investor engagement and improved fiscal predictability.

Agbomhere, who serves as the South South Zonal Organising Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, noted that conventional security deployments had struggled to dismantle criminal networks operating across the creeks and offshore installations.

He warned that abruptly dismantling what he described as a functioning security architecture could:

• Create an intelligence vacuum

• Embolden bunkering syndicates

• Threaten national revenue at a sensitive economic period

“The surveillance contract has functioned not merely as a protective shield for pipelines but as a stabilising mechanism for regional peace,” he stated.

He nonetheless emphasized the need for transparency and accountability, noting that legislative oversight and performance audits are essential.

“No public contract is beyond scrutiny, but reform must not degenerate into regression.”

International Engagement Raises Eyebrows

It was gathered that Mathew Tonlagha, vice chairman of Tantita Security Services and owner of Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited, recently entered into a six-month agreement with a Washington-based public affairs firm, Valcour Global Public Strategy.

According to public records, the contract:

• Value: $120,000 per month

• Duration: December 15, 2025, to June 14, 2026

• Purpose: Strengthening bilateral engagement between Nigeria and the United States, including outreach to media and policymakers

While some view the move as part of broader corporate diplomacy, others interpret it within the context of heightened scrutiny surrounding pipeline security operations.

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House of Representatives Launches Probe

The House of Representatives has commenced an investigation into the award and execution of the pipeline surveillance contracts involving the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) under former Managing Director, Mele Kyari.

The investigation is expected to examine:

• Compliance with procurement guidelines

• Performance benchmarks and achievements

• Financial oversight mechanisms

• Value for money

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What Analysts Are Saying

Industry analysts suggest the Federal Government’s eventual decision could take several forms:

Any change, stakeholders say, would likely reshape the balance of influence in the Niger Delta and signal the administration’s long-term strategy for securing oil infrastructure.

What This Means for the Niger Delta

The contract’s financial scale—roughly N48 billion per year—supports:

• Logistics and surveillance operations

• Staffing and employment

• Subcontracting across several communities

For a region where employment opportunities remain limited, the contract represents a significant economic lever. Its revocation or restructuring could have far-reaching implications for stability and youth engagement.

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Awaiting Tinubu’s Decision

The Federal Government has yet to make a final pronouncement on the future of the surveillance contract. However, the outcome of the ongoing review and legislative probe is expected to determine whether the current framework will be retained, adjusted, or significantly restructured.

For now, attention remains focused on Abuja, as stakeholders across the Niger Delta await clarity on a contract that sits at the intersection of security, politics, and Nigeria’s oil economy.

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Key Takeaways

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Ejes Gist News Nigeria will continue to monitor developments in the pipeline surveillance contract saga and provide updates as events unfold.

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