Lawmakers visit Tompolo, want legal framework for private firm to operate in deep waters

Members of the House of Representatives are considering creating a legal framework that will empower private security firms protecting national oil assets to operate in deep waters in the fight against oil theft and vandalism.

This was mulled when Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Upstream and Oil Theft, Honourable Alhassan Ado Doguwa, led a delegation of the National Assembly drawn from all relevant oil and gas committees, on a working visit to the facilities of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) and arrested vessels at Oporoza, headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom of Delta State.

Doguwa, also the chairman of the House Special Committee on Crude Oil, said with him were 25 other members of the House of Representatives drawn from seven House Committees, including Host Communities, Niger Delta, Gas Resources, Environment, Petroleum Upstream, Petroleum Mainstream as well as the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).

The lawmakers assessed the two vessels – MT KALI and MT HARBOR SPIRIT intercepted and anchored at Oporoza and lauded TSSNL and its founder, Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo a.k.a. Tompolo, for the patriotism displayed by the private pipeline surveillance firm in synergy with the nation’s security agencies.

“We have seen the good work done by TANTITA. We have also seen the good work being done by our security agencies, the Army, Navy, the police and the NSCDC.

“We have seen how they are all working in synergy and doing their best.

“On our own part (NASS), we will continue to now create a better and enduring environment to see to the protection of oil assets.

“The economy is run basically on oil and we must do all that is needed to protect the oil assets to be able to catch up with the demands and projections, according to OPEC, which is also important to meet the needs of Nigerians by generating required revenue to develop the country,” Doguwa said.

The lawmaker further told journalists that “the Special Committee was constituted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas to specifically come and see for ourselves the level of oil and gas and crude oil theft in the Niger Delta.

“We are determined to support all measures that will lead to increased production of oil and gas in Nigeria as oil and gas has continued to remain the live wire of the country,’ he said.

Earlier, the Commander, 63 Brigade and Sector Joint Task Force Commander, South-South Operation Delta Safe, Brigadier-General Ugochukwu Vitus Unachukwu, affirmed the synergy between the military and private security operatives in the region.

He declared that the collaboration between TANTIA Security Services Nigeria Limited and the Armed Forces of Nigeria to stamp out the crime is total and absolute, and “we will pursue it to the logical conclusion.”

The military commander further disclosed that the illegal oil bunkering ships arrested recently by TSSNL will soon be destroyed to serve as a deterrent to others who might want to sabotage the national economy.