News
Oil Thieves Fuelling Attack On Tompolo’s Contract – Group
The Ijaw Patriotic League has backed the Federal Government in ignoring calls to revoke the oil pipeline protection contract awarded to a company in which High Chief Ekpemupolo Tompolo has an interest.
The National Coordinator of the IPL, Jasper Eritei described the decision of the Federal Government to engage a former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta to assist in securing the nation’s outrageously violated pipelines as well thought out and in the public good.
The group noted that it is the responsibility of the government to make critical decisions to ensure that the overall interest of the society is protected.
The National Coordinator said in a statement on Friday that the condemnation and protests that have followed the award of the contract to the particular company should alert the Federal Government and indeed the NNPC that the right decision has been made to prevent oil theft in the Niger Delta.
READ ALSO: Delta Ijaw Group Backs Tompolo’s Pipeline Surveillance Contract
The theft of the nation’s oil resources, according to Eritei, has assumed a startling dimension at a time government is borrowing to run the country and should be rightly tackled just as the Government is doing.
He stressed that the massively wealthy criminals running the multibillion Naira oil theft rings will go through proxies to prevent any serious solution.
He stated further that the attacks on the contract should not surprise the government as oil thieves who have deployed billions of oil Naira on tankers and personnel, to criminally plunder the country’s oil resources will not back off without a fight.
He noted that the orchestrated blackmail is just the first show of desperation by this deadly oil cabal.
He stressed that with Tompolo’s track record in NIMASS where a company in which he had interest secured the waterways, the People behind the massive sabotage of the Nigerian economy will not be comfortable.
The group wondered why out of five firms that were engaged, only the one by this particular firm is generating condemnation.
He stressed further that the same pipeline protection contract had been handled by firms belonging to a traditional ruler in Delta and his late in-law from Edo State with no protest from anywhere.
The group noted that in spite of the fact that both companies operated in the Niger Delta, Chief Tompolo neither complained nor interfered in their operations.
The statement commended the position of the NNPC that it has no regrets engaging the former leader MEND to guard its oil pipeline network.
He said the decision to engage private contractors to fight the menace of oil theft and pipeline vandalism cannot be faulted and engaging a firm in which Tompolo has an interest cannot make it bad.
“We have watched with surprise and indeed consternation the attacks, deliberately put together to blackmail the Federal Government to cancel the pipeline surveillance and protection contract awarded to a firm in which Tompolo has interest.
“We believe that the Federal Government and indeed the NNPC have acted positively to promote the common good by embarking on this deliberate master stroke of a step to counter the mind-boggling theft of the nation’s disappearing resources.
“Logically, those feeding fat on odious money from stolen crude resources will not welcome the Government’s action without a fight. It is expected that they will commit huge resources to sabotage it.
“It is on this basis that we call on the Federal Government and the NNPC to be resolute and dismiss this call for the cancellation of the contract awarded to Tompolo.
“We also commend the NNPC for insisting on doing the right thing and staying with the action in spite of the mostly sponsored attacks on the Government.
“We are of the view that the contract promises to be a great leap in the right direction and the Managing Director of the NNPC is right when he declared that the corporation has no regret with the decision.
“Finally, we call on Tompolo to carry out his promise to reach out to various interest groups in the Niger Delta in the interest of a conducive atmosphere for the company’s critical operations.”
News
Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court
The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.
Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.
In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.
READ ALSO:Edo NLC Divided Over May Day Celebration
The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.
They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.
The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.
In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.
READ ALSO:JUST IN: NLC Begins Meeting With ASUU, Other Unions Over Strike
The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.
The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.
According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.
However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.
News
Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru
Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.
Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.
READ ALSO:Film Premiere: Edo In Talks With Embassies To Promote Safe Migration —Agazuma
La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.
The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.
The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.
He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.
News
Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses
The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.
DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.
A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.
READ ALSO:Xenophobic Attacks: Oshiomhole Tells FG To Retaliate Against South African Companies In Nigeria
“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.
“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.
“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.
-
Politics5 days ago2027: Tinubu’s Re-election May Put An End To Nigeria — Baba Ahmed Warns
-
Business4 days agoJUST IN: Nigerian Filling Stations Reduce Fuel Price After Hike
-
News2 days agoBREAKING: Wike Picks Alabo George For Rivers Governorship
-
Politics4 days agoNDC Speaks On Peter Obi, Kwankwaso Joining Party
-
News4 days ago2027: Pastor Adeboye Speaks On Nigeria’s Next President
-
Politics2 days agoJUST IN: Why I left ADC For NDC With Kwankwaso – Peter Obi Opens Up
-
News3 days agoOPINION: Why South Africans Murder Nigerians In Cold Blood
-
Business2 days agoWhy We Sited Our Multi-Billion Naira Automobile Firm Branch in Benin – Skyewise Group CEO
-
Entertainment4 days agoAgain, Tragedy Hits Nollywood As Another Actress Dies
-
Politics3 days ago
Peter Obi, Kwankwaso Formally Join NDC, Warn Members Against Litigation
