Why We Awarded Multi-Billion Naira Pipeline Contract To Tompolo – NNPC
Following controversies trailing the award of pipeline surveillance contract worth billions of naira to Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, has given an explanation.
All Facts Newspaper had reported that groups including armed Creek men of the Niger Delta, opposed the contract awarded solely to Tompolo, a former militant leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta. READ HERE
Speaking on Tuesday at the Presidential villa, Abuja, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the NNPC, Mele Kyari, said awarding Tompolo the surveillance contract was a right decision as individuals are needed to aid security agencies in pipeline surveillance against oil theft.
Explaining further on how Tompolo grabbed the contract, Kyari said;
“The security agencies are doing their part. End-to-end pipeline surveillance would require the involvement of private entities and community stakeholders.”
“We need private contractors to man the right of way to these pipelines. So we put up a framework for contractors to come and bid and they were selected through a tender process. And we believe we made the right decision.”
According to Mr Kyari, the decision was aimed at achieving three broad objectives.
“First, to ensure the government’s security agencies play their part, we have our Navy, the Army and they 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 result was that it was contained under a process like this and we believe that we are taking the right decision”.
