Surveillance contract: HOSCON warns agitators against attacks on Tompolo

The Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas and Pipeline Impacted States (HOSCON) has called on agitators over the pipeline surveillance contracts to desist from attacking the Chief Executive Officer of Tantita Limited, Government Ekpemupolo, well known as Tompolo.

HOSCON described Tompolo as a worthy leader, saying he deserves commendation on the roles he had played in boosting increase in oil production in the Niger Delta region of the country.

The HOSCON National Chairman, Dr Mike Emuh, in a statement issued on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, said accusations or attacks on Tantita leadership was counter-productive and should stop henceforth.

“We consider it a critical concern we should address taking into cognizance that Tantita as a security outfit under Tompolo has been able to foster peace, unity and enabling environment for improved oil and gas production in the Niger Delta,” Emuh stated.

Emuh also disassociated HOSCON from such attacks and called for restraint and constructive engagement among the agitators.

He noted that President Bola Tinubu’s recognition of Tompolo and his leadership efficiency had a historical context, saying the latter’s campaign staged in Okporoza, Gbaramotu, Delta State, for the president ahead of the 2023 election was significant.

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“We are convinced that the president has implicit confidence in Tompolo on this national assignment and his continued management of the security architecture on surveillance and security in the Niger Delta has been successful”, Emuh added.

The HOSCON boss stressed that instead of the repeated attacks and accusations against Tompolo, the agitators should join his body and other stakeholders to deliver on direct 13 per cent oil detivation payments to the host communities, full and accurate implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and its amendments, operationalisation of Section 162 (2) of the 1999 Constitution in favour of host communities, and creation of 13 per cent Derivation Implementation Committee.

“These are critical areas of interest for the greater good of the Niger Delta, which should agitate interest and action rather than the fixation on surveillance contracts,” he said.

Though Emuh stated that there were gaps in the implementation of the PIA, he, however, cautioned against undue rivalry and any violent acts, saying agitators should unite with Tinubu, South-South governors, traditional rulers, and host communities to build “a united, prosperous, and a peaceful nation.”

The Star