Engr. Udengs Eradiri, a former Secretary-General of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to renew the contract of Tantita Security Services (TSS) for oil and gas surveillance in the Niger Delta. Eradiri called on the administration to ignore calls from certain individuals to cancel the contract, arguing that it has been instrumental in maintaining peace and boosting oil production in the region.

Security Contract as a Cornerstone of Stability

Eradiri, who served as a Commissioner for Youths and Environment in Bayelsa State, described the Tantita contract as one of the key achievements of the Tinubu administration. He stated that the contract has significantly reduced conflicts in the Niger Delta, which had previously led to a decline in oil production. According to Eradiri, the contract has helped restore investor confidence and attract foreign investments to the region.

He noted that the Tantita Security Services, led by Tompolo, have provided security for oil and gas facilities and ensured that the benefits of the contract trickle down to the local communities. Eradiri emphasized that the company has created thousands of jobs, mainly for youths, across the nine states of the Niger Delta, contributing to the region’s economic development.

“The Tantita Security Service is one of the positive things that the administration has sustained,” Eradiri said. “It came about from the conflict that had led to the decline of oil production in the region, and the government wanted a permanent solution to the problem.”

Political Motivations Behind Opposition

Eradiri suggested that some of the calls for the cancellation of the contract are politically motivated. He claimed that political opponents of President Tinubu are behind the campaign, as they view Tompolo’s support for the president as a threat to their ambitions for the 2027 elections.

“The political enemies of President Tinubu are sponsoring the campaign against Tantita because they see Tompolo’s love for the President and his desire to deliver bloc votes for the President as a threat to their 2027 ambition,” Eradiri stated.

He added that some individuals are jealous of the success of Tompolo and his partners, including Mathew Tonlagha of Malon Engineering. Eradiri noted that the Managing Director of Tantita, Keston Pondei, and Mathew Tonlagha have been generous in their efforts to support the less privileged in the Niger Delta, in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“These people don’t know where we are coming from, and when the chips are down, you will never find them,” Eradiri said. “I call on the President to ignore such calls. Let’s look at the gains we have made versus where we are coming from. Are we making progress? Yes, we are. Are the young people engaged? In fact, in Bayelsa, Rivers, Imo, Edo, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Abia, many young people are involved. Many of them are living a decent life because of what Tompolo is doing.”

Discipline and Community Engagement

Eradiri praised Tompolo for his discipline and commitment to the communities. He noted that despite having access to significant resources, Tompolo prefers to live in the communities, strategizing to keep the peace in the region. Eradiri said it is rare to find someone with such exposure to resources and still maintain such discipline.

He also commended Mathew Tonlagha, the Managing Director of Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited, for his contributions to the peace and development of the Niger Delta. Eradiri described Tonlagha as a distinguished figure in the engineering and construction sectors of the oil and gas industry.

“You talk about Chief Mathew Tonlagha, the Managing Director of Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited. This is a man that had distinguished himself in engineering and construction in the oil and gas sector over the years. He has been a worthy partner in deepening the peace in the Niger Delta,” Eradiri said.

Eradiri urged President Tinubu to consider the gains achieved by Tantita and seek ways to expand the contract instead of shrinking or cancelling it. He emphasized that the Tantita contract has brought peace and prosperity to the Niger Delta, and any attempt to cancel it would be detrimental to the region’s development.