TheCable

The Niger Delta Peace Front (NDPF) has cautioned ex-militants in the region against being used by saboteurs to undermine Nigeria’s economy.

On Sunday, the group gave the warning in a statement signed by Patterson Efemena and Onyem Philip, respectively chairman and secretary.

The group’s caution arises amid the criticism surrounding the extension of the pipeline protection contract granted to Tantita Security Services Limited, a private security company led by Government Ekpemupolo, a Niger Delta activist widely known as Tompolo.

The NDPF said it was “curious and suspicious” that those who benefited from the contract in the past are now the ones leading the campaign against it.

The group, however, urged ex-militants to support Tantita in its efforts to combat oil theft, rather than being used by those who are “bent on sabotaging the Nigerian economy”.

“We have observed the sponsored mudslinging and other veiled threats to the federal government and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited over the renewal of the oil pipeline contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Limited,” the statement reads.

“We are of the view that it is about time we stopped these threats and name-calling to pursue things that are beneficial to our dear country’s finances and the poorly managed ecology of our homeland.

“Oil theft has to be called its right name – a plague on the financial well-being of our country. We will surely do better if we commit half of the energy we have dissipated on this issue to the product end of putting up a concerted front under Tantita to fight oil theft.

“Perhaps, we need to stress the point here that contracts are not won by hurling insults at the awarding authorities on the pages of newspapers and those selected for jobs.”

The NDPF also commended President Bola Tinubu and the NNPCL for their commitment to fighting oil theft.

The group said it is confident that the renewed contract with Tantita will help to further reduce the incidence of oil theft in the Niger Delta.