Ijaw Youths Network (IJN) has commended President Bola Tinubu for renewing the pipeline protection contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Limited for another three years.
The IYN coordinator, Frank Ebikabo and secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, said in a statement yesterday that the president displayed uncommon leadership in the pursuit of the collective good of Nigeria.
The group said that the decision of the president who ignored a campaign of calumny orchestrated by a group of self-serving individuals was a further vindication of the bold efforts made by Tantita Security Limited to confront the mindless theft of the nation’s oil resources.
IYN said the renewal of the contract in spite of the massive campaign against the company clearly showed that the president is determined to strengthen the fight against the oil thieves who have held down the country’s economy for years.
The group also commended the group chief executive officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mr Mele Kyari, for the outstanding display of firmness and patriotism in the lingering issue of the fight against oil theft and economic sabotage in the country.
It stated that Kyari’s decision to engage local security outfits to confront the hydra headed existential economic challenge facing the country was a masterstroke as shown by the incontrovertible exploits of Tantita Security Services Limited.
It urged the NNPC Ltd, GCEO to ignore a group of disgruntled militants who are blackmailing him in the media, for doing what is right and noted that the NNPC led by Kyari only did what was expected by offering desperately needed solutions to a grave crime executed by a gang of rich criminals who targeted the soul of the nation’s economy.
The group called the attention of the security agencies especially the Department of State Services (DSS) to an amorphous body, the Supreme Egbesu Freedom Fighters of Niger Delta, which has issued threats to the NNPC GCEO over the renewal of the contract.
The duo said that the so-called Supreme Egbesu Freedom Fighters of Niger Delta should perhaps tell Nigerians if they are still involved in armed struggle or are under the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
It urged the director-general of the DSS to note the threat of the group which seems to suggest loudly that they might engage in sabotage activities in the region.
The group urged security agencies to ensure that those behind the threat are closely monitored and arrested to avert possible targeting of the nation’s critical economic assets in the Niger Delta.