High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, widely known as Tompolo, is no stranger to power struggles. But in early 2026, the stakes around him feel unusually high—and less certain.
Tompolo leads Tantita Security Services, the company responsible for protecting Nigeria’s oil pipelines in the Niger Delta. The contract is massive, worth about N48 billion a year. For years, it has positioned him as both a security partner to the government and a dominant figure in the region.
That position is now under pressure.
A key shift came in 2025 when Mele Kyari, the former head of NNPC and one of Tompolo’s strongest allies, left office. His successor has kept some distance, and Tompolo’s direct access to the presidency appears to have weakened. Reports suggest he has even sought help from former President Goodluck Jonathan to rebuild those connections.
In response, Tompolo is making visible moves to prove his value. His company has increased operations against oil theft, including intercepting vessels carrying stolen crude. It has also invested in new surveillance technology, such as drones, to strengthen monitoring of pipelines. Financially, he has made large public donations, including N10 billion to a state security fund.
But these efforts come as criticism grows. Some former militant groups and civil society voices argue that the pipeline contract should be reviewed or shared more widely, rather than concentrated in one network.
To understand the moment, it helps to recall Tompolo’s past. He once led militant groups that disrupted Nigeria’s oil production before accepting amnesty in 2009. That shift turned him from adversary to partner, someone the government relied on to secure the same system he once attacked.
Now, that partnership is being tested. The question is no longer just whether Tompolo can deliver results, but whether his role in Nigeria’s oil security will remain as central as it has been.
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