By Sobomabo Jackrich
Earlier yesterday, I received news that High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, donated a remarkable N10 billion as Chief Launcher during the launching of the Delta State Security Trust Fund, organized by the Delta State Governor, H.E Sheriff Oborevwori. This gesture is not only commendable; it is a profound demonstration of lasting commitment to peace, security, and progress in Delta State, across the Niger Delta.
and for Nigeria as a whole.
As colleagues who shared in the Niger Delta struggle, we are proud of what Tompolo is doing. His actions repeatedly show that true leadership is measured in deeds that secure people, empower communities, and strengthen national stability. By directing such an immense financial commitment towards the security of his state, Tompolo reaffirms a simple truth: peace in Delta state means peace for the entire Niger Delta and, by extension, for Nigeria.
Delta State occupies a strategic place in Nigeria’s hydrocarbon industry. Between November 2023 and September 2024, it produced about 99.9 million barrels of
crude oil and condensate, making it the nation’s top-producing state. Together with Bayelsa and Rivers, Delta accounts for roughly 85 percent of Nigeria’s petroleum output, the lifeblood of our national economy.
It follows that securing Delta is tantamount to securing the heartbeat of Nigeria’s revenue base. When insecurity chokes production, the whole economy suffers; when stability is restored, oil flows, jobs return, and investor confidence rises.
The impact of improved security in the Niger Delta is already visible. Thanks to Tantita Security Services, a Tompolo security initiative, Nigeria’s oil production recovered from a low of about 650,000 barrels per day to over 1.8 million barrels per day in recent years, with official records showing an average of around 1.71 million barrels daily as of mid-2025.
This recovery has strengthened the naira, boosted revenues, and restored investor confidence. Curtailing oil theft and pipeline vandalism benefits every Nigerian, and Tompolo has been at the forefront of that turnaround. His visionary
What distinguishes Tompolo’s approach is its inclusivity. Unlike other vendors who operate in isolation, Tantita has built a participatory system that brings together key stakeholders across the Niger Delta. Its operational framework ensures representation and active involvement of all ethnic nationalities — Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urhobo, Isoko, and others across the Niger Delta region.
This collaborative model has improved operational efficiency and helped heal divisions, fostering unity in once fragmented communities. The result is growing peace and improved productivity across the region.
Tompolo’s commitment extends well beyond surveillance and patrols. Through Tantita, he has funded community infrastructure and human-development projects that strengthen law enforcement, promoting rehabilitation and education.
Tantita’s portfolio reflects Tompolo’s philosophy of building peace through progress. The company has quietly and consistently invested in human capital, community infrastructure, and nationwide faith-based projects:
Ugborikoko Divisional Police Station, Uvwie, in Delta State: Built and fully equipped by Tantita with modern offices, CCTV systems, 30 KVA solar and generator backup, computers, vehicles, and living quarters to strengthen law-enforcement capacity and morale.
Education & rehabilitation at Warri Correctional Facility: An 8-classroom block supports inmate education and reintegration, a true investment in lasting peace.
Delta State College of Nursing Sciences, Okere-Urhobo: Donation of a 45 KVA inverter, 98 solar panels, 40 desktop computers, and a 29-seater bus to ensure sustainable power and improved education delivery.
Sustainable Rice-Farming Initiative: In partnership with SDN and Ecosus Pro Nigeria Ltd., Tantita pioneered large-scale rice farming in Bayelsa and Delta, creating alternative livelihoods for former oil-bunkering youths.
Empowerment of FUPRE Students: Tantita awarded #10 million to outstanding students at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), promoting academic excellence among Niger Delta youth.
Each of these projects is a statement of intent, a demonstration that true peace is achieved not merely by military patrols, but by providing education, jobs, faith, and dignity.
I want to commend the organizers of the epoch-making Stakeholders Appreciation Lunch event in Port Harcourt, sponsored by Maton Engineering and Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, themed “STRONGER TOGETHER: Building Community Sustaining Partnership”. The quality of the programme, the diverse participation, the mutual respect and the energy of dialogue showcased a renewed commitment to regional peace and development, as well as the height of administrative prowess of both Engr. Matthew Tonlagha and High Chief Kestin Pundi.
Let me wholeheartedly congratulate Engr. Matthew Tonlagha, Chairman of Maton Engineering Nig. LTD, and the MD of Tantita Security Services, High Chief Kirston Pondi, for their unwavering commitment to inclusivity in the ongoing surveillance contract. Their leadership and hands-on stakeholder engagement have weakened criminality and elevated community participation. Their networking with key stakeholders has also provided opportunities for youths across the board, thereby promoting peace and sustaining the progress of Tantita’s operations.
To other service providers in the security surveillance space: Tantita’s model should be emulated. The era of sharp practices and the so-called “419 approach” must end. Let accountability, fairness, and stakeholder inclusion guide every engagement. When communities are carried along, trust is built and national security objectives are more effectively achieved.
Tantita’s success is not accidental; it is the product of deliberate vision, inclusive strategy, and patriotic leadership. Its multidimensional approach spanning security, education, rehabilitation, infrastructure, agriculture, and faith-based development offers Nigeria a model worth replicating nationwide.
Tompolo’s #10 billion donation is more than money: it is a symbol of faith in the idea that peace can be built from within by those who understand the terrain and the people. Every kobo invested in peace creates ripples of progress; every strengthened community becomes a fortress for national stability.
Delta is a vital part of the Niger Delta puzzle; its security and peace have a direct and positive impact on neighbouring states such as Bayelsa, Edo, and Rivers. This is why Tompolo’s action transcends state lines; it strengthens the security architecture of the entire region and fortifies the economic lifeline of the nation.
This noble gesture also aligns perfectly with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly his focus on peace, security, and sustainable economic growth. Tompolo’s action mirrors the President’s vision by transforming personal success into public good, demonstrating that patriotic citizens and institutions can directly contribute to stabilizing and growing the nation.
For those of us who shared trenches with Tompolo in the Niger Delta struggle, this moment is deeply inspiring. We fought for dignity, inclusion, and justice, and today those ideals are translating into tangible structures of peace and progress.
Tompolo has proven that true warriors not only resist they build. Through his leadership and stakeholder collaboration, he has positioned himself as a statesman and dependable partner for peace, security, and economic growth in Nigeria, a legacy that will endure. This is also a clarion call on all leaders of the Niger Delta Struggle to eschew division and work in Collective Synergy to build the region.
(Excerpts from High Chief Hon. Amb. Sobomabo Jackrich, Paramount Head of Da lke Group of Houses and Communities)
