Citing the relative peace in the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria, which has led to an upsurge in the nation’s crude oil production, the Edo State chapter of Host Communities Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM) has called on President Bola Tinubu to renew Chief Government “Tompolo” Ekpemupolo’s oil pipeline surveillance contract.

Speaking yesterday in Benin City, Edo State, at a meeting of HOSTCOM, the state Chairman, Mr Kenneth Kenebragha Aduwaye, said that Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, the pipeline surveillance company owned by Ekpemupolo, has succeeded to a very large extent in curtailing cases of pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, and illegal refineries in the Niger Delta region.

Aduwaye said that before the advent of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, oil spills resulting from pipeline vandalism, which led to environmental degradation, were the order of the day, adding that the company has delivered very well on its mandate.

The Edo HOSTCOM chairman remarked that at a dismal 1.3 million barrels of oil per day, Nigeria was very far away from meeting its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota of 2.3 million barrels per day.

He said that with Tompolo’s company, Nigeria’s oil production has shot up 1.870 million barrels per day and is poised to further increase and meet the OPEC quota of 2.3 million barrels per day.

He said: “There’s no need for the Federal Government to terminate the contract with Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited. High Chief Government Ekpemupolo’s company has succeeded in maintaining the peace in the Niger Delta. Cases of pipeline vandalism, illegal refineries, and oil theft have subsided since he took over. The Nigerian oil industry, the mainstay of the nation’s economy, is better for it. From a low of 1.3 million barrels per day, Nigeria’s oil production has surged to almost 1.9 million barrels per day and is poised to hit 2 million barrels per day.

“Against this backdrop, there is no need to change the pipeline surveillance company. The company has delivered significantly and has made the work easier for the different HOSTCOMs. As they say in sport, you don’t change a winning team. Edo HOSTCOM is therefore calling on President Bola Tinubu to renew the contract for Ekpemupolo’s company. It has done well and should be encouraged.”