By Jimitota Onoyume 

National Chairman,  Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSCON) , Mr Mike Emuh, has enjoined critics of the  pipeline surveillance contracts awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, to refrain from the act , saying their actions were counter productive.

Describing the High Chief Government Ekpemupolo’s, Tantita   as a key driver of improved oil production and stability in the Niger Delta, he said the critics  should also stop  their effort to discredit Ekpemupolo.

In a statement, the HOSCON National Chairman,  Emuh, said persistent criticism of Tantita  undermined ongoing efforts to secure oil assets and sustain production in the region.

“We consider it a critical concern that must be addressed. Under Tompolo’s leadership, Tantita has helped foster peace, unity, and an enabling environment for increased oil and gas output in the Niger Delta,” Emuh stated.

He formally distanced HOSCON from the ongoing attacks, urging aggrieved groups to embrace restraint and constructive dialogue rather than engage in what he described as divisive rhetoric.

Emuh also linked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s confidence in Tompolo to a long-standing relationship, recalling the high-profile 2023 campaign meeting held in Okporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State.

HOSCON founder Chief Dr. Wellington Okrika Con, the National Chairman, Chief Mike Emuh and a host of prominent people were part of the campaign meeting.

According to Emuh, the President’s trust in Tompolo reflected confidence in his capacity to manage the region’s surveillance architecture effectively. “The results so far speak for themselves in terms of improved security and production,” he added.

Shifting focus, the HOSCON chairman urged agitators to channel their energy toward more pressing issues affecting host communities. These include the direct implementation of the 13 percent oil derivation fund, full enforcement of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), and the operationalisation of Section 162(2) of the 1999 Constitution in favour of oil-bearing communities.

He further advocated for the establishment of a 13 percent Derivation Board to ensure transparency and accountability in fund disbursement.

“These are the critical priorities that should engage stakeholders’ attention, not a fixation on surveillance contracts,” Emuh stressed.

While acknowledging gaps in the implementation of the PIA, Emuh warned against rivalry and any form of violence, calling instead for unity among stakeholders including the Federal Government, South-South governors, traditional institutions, and host communities to achieve sustainable development.

He urged all parties to align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration in building a peaceful, stable, and economically viable Niger Delta.