…conferred with NUJ Meritorious Award
Niger Delta crusader and Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd (TSSNL), Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, has vowed to end the reign of oil thieves sabotaging oil operations in the region as part of the efforts to revamp the country’s ailing economy.
Tompolo noted that Nigeria was in a dire strait and needed all the support to end the activities of saboteurs in the Nigerian oil sector.
The Niger Delta freedom fighter stated this in his Oporoza, Gbaramatu country home in Delta State at the weekend when the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) conferred the award of “INTERNAL SECURITY MERITORIOUS AWARD” on him in recognition of his contributions to the prevailing peace in the Niger Delta and his undying efforts to put an end to crude oil theft in the oil-rich belt.
Just a few weeks ago, Tompolo’s security company, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), arrested two vessels on the high sea loaded with alleged stolen crude.
The award on Tompolo, according to the National President of the NUJ, Chief Chris Isiguzo, was therefore in recognition of Tompolo’s outstanding contributions to safeguarding and securing the nation’s oil and gas infrastructure by curtailing oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta.
Receiving the award , Tompolo vowed to help secure the nation’s oil and gas facilities in order to boost the national economy, pointing out, “I don’t have any other country to call my own except Nigeria.
“Nigeria is the only country I have; so we must all join hands to protect and move Nigeria forward.
“Our economy is not in good shape. We must all rise to the occasion to revive it. We cannot fold our hands and allow a few persons to sabotage the nation’s economy for personal gains.”
He appreciated the leadership of the NUJ for recognising his modest contributions to economic development, just as he promised not to rest on his oars.
Presenting the award on behalf of the union, Isiguzor said the National Executive, after due consultations, arrived at conferring the meritorious award on Tompolo for his contributions towards security, successes in tackling economic sabotage head long and efforts towards economic recovery.
He said Tompolo has set the pace in securing Nigeria’s oil and gas facilities from the throes of economic insecurity in the Niger Delta region.
Isiguzor therefore urged the media, security agencies and Nigerians alike to cooperate with Tompolo in the task of eradicating oil theft forthwith.
The NUJ boss stated, “Somebody has risen to the occasion and gathered an array of young men who have taken it upon themselves to help this country continue to survive as a peaceful nation, united and continue to fend for its people.
“And that is the man that has, to a very large extent, substantially, helped us address the issue of crude oil theft.
“That is one thing that has occupied our national life over time. By his commitment, dedication and diligence, Nigeria, as a country, has to a very large extent, reduced the activities of men of the underworld who have consistently engaged in pilfering, taking our common patrimony for their personal gains.
“The NUJ, having assessed the activities of TSSNL, has decided that we must accord the necessary recognition to the man who carries the flag, birthed this security organization, who has exceptionally distinguished himself.
“The NUJ has come to the Oporoza Community in Gbaramatu Kingdom to honour a distinguished son of the Niger Delta; a general in his own right who has distinguished himself, ensures and maintains an appreciable level of internal security.
“We have come to confer on him, the Internal Security Meritorious Award of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
“In the course of the national security conference, held in Abuja, only one award had been approved and it is conferred on Dr Government Ekpemupolo”.
Isiguzo added, “I’m also excited that I’m doing this after 61 years of the existence of the NUJ; this award is coming up at this time.
“It is not just an honour to Tompolo but also an honour to me too. It is an honour to all of us and what that means is that the issue of security is not just the responsibility of government but of every Nigerian.
“When you provide information, and intelligence to security operatives and agencies, you have contributed in some measures to reducing the problem of insecurity in the land.
“So, it is a collective responsibility, and all hands must be on deck to ensure we address our problems.
“If Nigeria is peaceful, every part of the country, including your household, will be peaceful and that will give birth to development and progress.
He enjoined his colleagues; journalists to keep contributing their quota by sharing Intelligence with security agencies and operatives in order to engender peace, harmony and progress in the country.
Dignitaries at the ceremony included National Secretary of NUJ, Shuaibu Leman and Delta State NUJ Chairman, Churchill Oyowe, who led members of the Executive.