TheCable

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has described the federal government’s award of a pipeline surveillance contract to Government Ekpemupolo as a promotion of criminality. 

Auwal Musa, the executive director of CISLAC, said this in a statement on Monday. 

Ekpemupolo, otherwise known as Tompolo, is an ex-militant warlord. 

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) had recently awarded a pipeline protection contract worth N48 billion annually (N4 billion per month) to Tomopolo. 

The award of the contract to Tompolo had elicited criticism, but Mele Kyari, group chief executive officer (GCEO) of NNPCL, had said the federal government made “the right decision”. 

Speaking on the development, the CISLAC executive director said awarding such a contract to an ex-militant is questionable.

“What is the value of the investments and allocations made from the national treasury to the numerous security paraphernalia in Nigeria if an ex-militant is seen to be more competent to deliver on security issues than the entire armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Musa said. 

“Who oversight the procurement process of this award? Were there bids, and what process led to his emergence on this award? Or is our bureau of public procurement also an incompetent institution that couldn’t deliver on a free and equitable process? On the other, doesn’t the law have clear stipulations on contract awards in Nigeria?

“It is really sad that the Nigerian government is promoting criminality, because what they have practically done is encourage criminality.

“So, criminals can take arms against the state and they can now rubbish our own security; the police, navy, army, and DSS, meaning all of them cannot secure the country or the oil pipelines. One day, the Nigerian government will come and hire terrorists to guide us. This is really terrible.”

Meanwhile, TheCable had reported that pipeline protection contracts were first awarded to companies owned by former Niger Delta militants in 2011.