The federal government of Nigeria on Tuesday said the pipeline surveillance contract was not awarded directly to former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo popularly known as Tompolo.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Mele Kyari who made this known on Tuesday explained that the contract was given to corporate entities.
He however explained that Tompolo has interests in the company that was awarded the contract.
Applesbite recalls that the report that the Nigerian government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari awarded the pipeline surveillance contract to Tompolo sparked angry reactions across the country.
However, Kyari said on Tuesday during a press conference at the state house that the contract went to a company and it is not the first time the government will be doing such, adding that the move is in the interest of the people.
The NNPC boss argued that there is a need to involve the local community in the protection of such critical national assets but the security forces also have their roles to play.
According to him, the government did the right thing and the result will justify the step taken.
“What we did is to do three things. First, to ensure the government’s security agencies play their part, we have our Navy, the Army and are doing an excellent job of containing this, but as you do this sustenance is everything and therefore we also decided that we need private contractors to man the right of way and also operate outside the right of way so that they can also join us to manage members of the community
“We don’t have access to that and therefore, we put up a framework where contractors were selected through a tender process for people who can do it, not everyone can do it and Tompolo is just mentioned, we’re dealing with corporate entities.
“He may have interest in the company, we’re not dealing with Tompolo, but we know that he has interests in that company. We know that we’re engaging all other individuals who will be of help to us in this situation. This has happened severally over time and the end result was that it was contained under a process like this and we believe that we are taking the right decision,” he explained.
