Lawyer and Human Activist, Deji Adeyanju has said that the recent calls for the federal government to revoke the pipeline surveillance contract with the Tantita Security Network are being sponsored by those he described as political blackmailed and oil thieves.

He also said that ex-contractors are not exempted. Adeyanju added that “these groups are trying to undermine efforts to curb oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region.”

He gave the statement to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja. According to him, “some individuals who previously benefited from oil theft and pipeline vandalism are now orchestrating a campaign to blackmail the government into canceling the contract.”

He said “these individuals are working with corrupt officials to sabotage the government’s efforts to secure the nation’s oil pipelines.”

“The pipeline surveillance contract, awarded to a company linked to former militant leader Tompolo, has been praised for its effectiveness in reducing oil theft and pipeline vandalism which has seen production of over a million barrels daily which was previously at 300,000 barrels prior to when the contract was awarded to Chief Tompolo.”

“However, some groups have raised concerns about the contract, alleging it’s a form of patronage and could empower militant groups.”