Gov Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State (left) exchanging pleasantries with Government Ekpomupolo, the Chairman of Tantita Security Services Ltd (Middle), while Aigboje AIG-Imoukhuede, Chairman of the occasion and Group Chairman Access Holdings PLC, (right) looks on.
The donation of N10bn by Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo) in Asaba, during the Delta State Security Fund (DSSF) seems to ring bells around the oil region especially in Rivers State.
This is because Sobomabo Jackrich, a high chief in Rivers State and paramount head of ‘Da lke Group of Houses and Communities’, has described the whopping donation for security support as a defining investment.
The high chief reacted after the Thursday October 16, 2025 launching in Asaba where Tompolo, also a high chief and ex-agitator, boosted security drive in the state and region with the N10 billion donation as chief launcher.
The launching was organized by the Delta State Government under Gov Sheriff Oborevwori. The high chief said: “This gesture is not only commendable; it is a profound demonstration of lasting commitment to peace, security, and progress in Delta State, across the Niger Delta and for Nigeria as a whole.”
At the event, Keston Pondi, who is the managing director of Tantita Security Ltd, spoke on behalf of Ekpemupolo during the formal launching/fundraising held at Government House, Asaba.
He said, “What we are launching today go es beyond a financial contribution, it is a strategic investment in peace, progress, and the protection of lives and property.”
He commended Gov Oborevwori for institutionalizing a framework that enables coordinated private-sector participation in tackling security challenges.
Other Delta State big guns supported the effort. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Group Chairman of Access Holdings and chairman of the occasion, said the launch was a defining moment in the state’s history even as he applauded Gov Oborevwori’s leadership which he said had transformed Delta into one of Nigeria’s most peaceful and progressive states.
Aig-Imoukhuede announced a personal donation of ₦100 million to the Fund on behalf of himself and his wife, Ofure, and expressed optimism that the initiative would mobilize up to ₦100 billion in 2025.
Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo)
On his part, Governor Oborevwori recalled that the Security Trust Fund established by law in 2013 was designed as a collaborative platform for mobilizing resources from the private sector to complement government’s investment in security.
He explained that the fund would focus on acquiring modern surveillance equipment, operational vehicles, and communication tools, as well as supporting the training and retraining of security personnel and community vigilante groups across the 25 local government areas of the state.
He said his administration rebranded Operation Delta Hawk as Operation Delta Sweep and as a joint task force involving the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, DSS, and Civil Defence Corps.
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Jackrich, co-exagitator, impressed:
Soboma Jackrich, co-exagitator, applauding Tompolo
The huge donation seems to arouse the respect and excitement of co-exagitators around the oil region.
Jackrich, now a paramount rule like some others, said: “As colleagues who shared in the Niger Delta struggle, we are proud of what Tompolo is doing. His actions repeatedly show that true leadership is measured in deeds that secure people, empower communities, and strengthen national stability. By directing such an immense financial commitment towards the security of his state, Tompolo reaffirms a simple truth: peace in Delta state means peace for the entire Niger Delta and, by extension, for Nigeria.”
He said Delta State occupies a strategic place in Nigeria’s hydrocarbon industry. “Between November 2023 and September 2024, it produced about 99.9 million barrels of crude oil and condensate, making it the nation’s top-producing state. Together with Bayelsa and Rivers, Delta accounts for roughly 85 percent of Nigeria’s petroleum output, the lifeblood of our national economy.
“It follows that securing Delta is tantamount to securing the heartbeat of Nigeria’s revenue base. When insecurity chokes production, the whole economy suffers; when stability is restored, oil flows, jobs return, and investor confidence rises.”
Jackrich said the impact of improved security in the Niger Delta was already visible. “Thanks to Tantita Security Services, a Tompolo security initiative, Nigeria’s oil production recovered from a low of about 650,000 barrels per day to over 1.8 million barrels per day in recent years, with official records showing an average of around 1.71 million barrels daily as of mid-2025.
“This recovery has strengthened the naira, boosted revenues, and restored investor confidence. Curtailing oil theft and pipeline vandalism benefits every Nigerian, and Tompolo has been at the forefront of that turnaround.
“What distinguishes Tompolo’s approach is its inclusivity. Unlike other vendors who operate in isolation, Tantita has built a participatory system that brings together key stakeholders across the Niger Delta. Its operational framework ensures representation and active involvement of all ethnic nationalities — Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urhobo, Isoko, and others across the Niger Delta region.”
He said this collaborative model has improved operational efficiency and helped heal divisions, fostering unity in once fragmented communities. “The result is growing peace and improved productivity across the region.
Tompolo’s commitment extends well beyond surveillance and patrols. Through Tantita, he has funded community infrastructure and human-development projects that strengthen law enforcement, promoting rehabilitation and education.”
Amb. Jackrich said Tantita’s portfolio reflects Tompolo’s philosophy of building peace through progress, saying the company has quietly and consistently invested in human capital, community infrastructure, and nationwide faith-based projects:
“Ugborikoko Divisional Police Station, Uvwie, in Delta State: Built and fully equipped by Tantita with modern offices, CCTV systems, 30 KVA solar and generator backup, computers, vehicles, and living quarters to strengthen law-enforcement capacity and morale.
“Education & rehabilitation at Warri Correctional Facility: An 8-classroom block supports inmate education and reintegration, a true investment in lasting peace.
“Delta State College of Nursing Sciences, Okere-Urhobo: Donation of a 45 KVA inverter, 98 solar panels, 40 desktop computers, and a 29-seater bus to ensure sustainable power and improved education delivery.
“Sustainable Rice-Farming Initiative: In partnership with SDN and Ecosus Pro Nigeria Ltd., Tantita pioneered large-scale rice farming in Bayelsa and Delta, creating alternative livelihoods for former oil-bunkering youths.
“Empowerment of FUPRE Students: Tantita awarded #10 million to outstanding students at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), promoting academic excellence among Niger Delta youth.”
He said each of these projects is a statement of intent, a demonstration that true peace is achieved not merely by military patrols, but by providing education, jobs, faith, and dignity.
“I want to commend the organizers of the epoch-making Stakeholders Appreciation Lunch event in Port Harcourt, sponsored by Maton Engineering and Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, themed ‘Stronger together: Building Community Sustaining Partnership’. The quality of the programme, the diverse participation, the mutual respect and the energy of dialogue showcased a renewed commitment to regional peace and development, as well as the height of administrative prowess of both Engr. Matthew Tonlagha and High Chief Kestin Pundi.
“Let me wholeheartedly congratulate Matthew Tonlagha, Chairman of Maton Engineering Nig. Ltd, and Kirston Pondi, the MD of Tantita Security Services, for their unwavering commitment to inclusivity in the ongoing surveillance contract.
“To other service providers in the security surveillance space: Tantita’s model should be emulated. The era of sharp practices and the so-called “419 approach” must end. Let accountability, fairness, and stakeholder inclusion guide every engagement. When communities are carried along, trust is built and national security objectives are more effectively achieved.
“Tantita’s success is not accidental; it is the product of deliberate vision, inclusive strategy, and patriotic leadership. Its multidimensional approach spanning security, education, rehabilitation, infrastructure, agriculture, and faith-based development offers Nigeria a model worth replicating nationwide.
Tompolo’s N10bn donation is more than money: it is a symbol of faith in the idea that peace can be built from within by those who understand the terrain and the people. Every kobo invested in peace creates ripples of progress; every strengthened community becomes a fortress for national stability.
“This noble gesture also aligns perfectly with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly his focus on peace, security, and sustainable economic growth. Tompolo’s action mirrors the President’s vision by transforming personal success into public good, demonstrating that patriotic citizens and institutions can directly contribute to stabilizing and growing the nation.
“For those of us who shared trenches with Tompolo in the Niger Delta struggle, this moment is deeply inspiring. We fought for dignity, inclusion, and justice, and today those ideals are translating into tangible structures of peace and progress.”
He said Tompolo has proved that true warriors not only resist, they build. “Through his leadership and stakeholder collaboration, he has positioned himself as a statesman and dependable partner for peace, security, and economic growth in Nigeria, a legacy that will endure. This is also a clarion call on all leaders of the Niger Delta Struggle to eschew division and work in Collective Synergy to build the region.”
The donation in Asaba has continued to make waves in Nigeria’s security circles as a demonstration of commitment to peace in the oil region. Now, many ex-agitators seem eager to make positive contributions to show that “agitation does not only destroy, it builds”.
