The paramount ruler of Idjerhe kingdom in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, His Majesty, King Obukowho Monday Whiskey Udurhie 1, has called on President Bola Tinubu “to urgently expand the scope of the crude oil pipeline surveillance contract in the Niger Delta region.”

This, he said, will help “to ensure more employment opportunities and discourage locals from supporting foreign elements/security forces who are deeply involved in the unholy vandalisation of sensitive national assets and facilities.”

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This was contained in a personally signed statement by the monarch dated 16 July 2023, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri, Delta State on the same day.

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According to the monarch, “With the recent arrest of the foreign bunkering vessel by the authorities of the Tantita Security Limited, owned by High Government Owezide Ekpemukpolo alias ‘Tompolo’, it is now clear to everyone that the company cannot only deliver on its mandate but that it has the patriotic zeal to save the nation’s economic well-being.”

While noting with concern that the illegal activities and vandalisation by the oil thieves have been adversely impacting the national economy and also destroying the Niger Delta environments, the traditional ruler stated that “Tantita has taken the highest security risks against known and unknown cartels whose stocks in trade is pipeline vandalism and environmental pollution, adding that the Federal Government should reciprocate the company’s gestures by expanding its current job scope so that the Nigerian economy can again be restored through the hard work of this patriotic Niger Delta security operatives.”

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The statement read partly, “Government must not only properly fund the Tantita to meet its financial needs to the growing staff list and huge technology that is involved in carrying out this all-important security assignment, but government through relevant agencies, should urgently expand the scope of the job.

“Government and its agencies responsible for this project must leave up to its corporate social and economic responsibilities by regularly funding the project as the economic saboteurs are all waiting for its failure so that they launch their attacks again in more disastrous manners, God forbid!”

The monarch further added that people who work hard in ensuring the safety of the nation’s assets should be allowed to reap from their efforts.

“Let those who have laboured and take the risk of protecting sensitive national assets benefit from their labour so that others can be encouraged to follow such patriotic paths,” he stated.