Tinubu’s probe of oil Industry praised, group calls for broader Investigation

By Samuel Ogunsona

The Association of Niger-Delta Communities (ANDC) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for launching a massive investigation into financial malpractices in the Nigerian National Petroleum Industry (NNPC).

The group praised Tinubu’s courage and determination to sanitize the oil industry.

In a statement signed by President Johnson Adaka and General Secretary Akpo Oghene, ANDC expressed excitement over the ongoing probe.

“We are impressed by what the President has done. But he needs to do more. He needs to get to the roots of the matter,” the group said.

The group alleged that the NNPC funds that have been stolen may be linked to the operations of armed groups in the Niger Delta, particularly TANITA owned by Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo.

Tompolo and the former NNPC Managing Director, Mele Kyari, are suspected of running the NNPC as a corrupt cartel.

ANDC called on the Federal Government to mop up arms in the Niger Delta to avoid a major crisis.

“The Niger Delta is under siege. Communities can no longer sleep with their eyes open. We confront arms groups every day all of which are linked to militants,” the group stated.

The group accused Tompolo of working underground against the second term of President Tinubu, saying that he has been sponsoring the opposition across the country while pretending to be a friend of the Presidency.

Tompolo has also been accused of creating arms depots and arsenals across Niger Delta communities.

“Tompolo and his company TANTITA are not really into pipeline protection but into arms importation to the Niger Delta. That is what they are doing.

They have a lot of armed men that intimidate, harass and even rape young girls and women,” the Association said.

Several people have been arrested and killed by Tompolo’s armed guards, and many are detained in his various private prisons spread across the creeks.

ANDC accused TANITA of blackmailing the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, saying that many people are aware that the NSA is a decent man that would not descend so low.

The group urged the President to investigate the mass importation of arms into the Niger Delta linked to militants like Tompolo in the region.

“The best way to stop the raging violence in the Niger Delta is to put an end to the violent and tyrannical rule of Tompolo and his bloodthirsty TANITA company.”