Tompolo, pipeline contract: Itsekiri youths begin recruitment processes

Ahead of the execution of the N4billion per month oil pipeline surveillance contract awarded by the Federal Government to former militant leader in the Niger Delta and ex-commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, Chief Government Ekpemukpolo also known as Tompolo, prospective operatives of Itsekiri extraction in the region on Monday commenced registration for recruitment into the scheme.

This followed a meeting of the Itsekiri National Youth Council, the apex youth body of the Itsekiris, held on Saturday.

During the meeting, they urged interested Itsekiri youths to sign up for the programme beginning from this week.

Consequently, prospective candidates from Itsekiri communities, both in Delta and Edo State have commenced submission of their community details at the INYC secretariat starting with applicants from Warri South Local Government Area billed for Monday and Tuesday.

It will be the turn of applicants from Warri North LGA on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 September, Warri South-West on Friday 16 and Saturday 17, September; Edo State Monday 19, September; Delta Central, Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 September, 2022 respectively.

The executive of the Itsekiri National Youth Council led by Comrade Isaac Oritseweyinmi Agbateyiniro had on Saturday briefed members on the outcome of a parley earlier held with Tompolo on their slot that covers Itsekiriland from the pipeline surveillance contract.

The Saturday meeting at Ikengbuwa Primary School Field, had in attendance a crowd of over 3,000 youths from the various Itsekiri communities, drawn from Edo State, Okpe, Sapele, Udu, Ethiope West and the three Warri Local Government Areas.

Agbateyiniro had told the gathering that Tompolo promised to work with Itsekiris with respect to their area as spelt out in the contract, noting that he (Tompolo) had already sublet three kilometers of the line to Ayiri Emami “based on an understanding from Abuja”.

He said, “Tompolo had been making overtures to Itsekiri with regards to the structure of the contract as it concerns Itsekiri but was discouraged from harmonizing with them.

“He assured us of working with the Itsekiri National Youth Council towards the smooth running of the contract and protection of Federal Government
installations in Itsekiriland”.

Comrade Esimaje Awani and other leaders of core Itsekiri youth groups like the Itsekiri People’s Congress led by Comr. Raymond Aderojo, Gabriel Mene Ejegi (HostCom), Comr. Ajatiton Isaac (Chairman, INYC Edo State), who had accompanied Comr. Agbateyiniro on the visit to Tompolo, also addressed the gathering.

They commended the leadership of the Itsekiri National Youth Council for displaying transparency and accountability, stressing that in the times past, things like this used to be shrouded in secrecy.