NUJ Honours Tompolo with Meritorious Internal Security Award

At the award presentation ceremony

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) conferring an Internal Security Meritorious Award on High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, who is the Chairman of Tantita Security Services.

According to the NUJ's national President, Chief Chris Isiguzo, the award was given to Tompolo in recognition of his and his firm's remarkable efforts in the fight against crude oil theft in the country. Tompolo and his team have been working closely with the Navy, Police, NSCDC, and others to arrest and ensure the forfeiture of vessels used in committing the crime. Isiguzo led the NUJ's national leadership to confer the award on Tompolo in Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, on Saturday.

He mentioned that without Tompolo's patriotic efforts, the country would have been in some trouble. This is the first time the NUJ is awarding the Internal Security Meritorious Award to anyone in its history, and it was given to Tompolo as recognition for his contributions.

According to him, “Somebody has risen to the occasion and gathered an array of young men who have taken it upon themselves to help this country continue to survive as a peaceful nation, united and continue to fend for its people.

“And that is the man that has, to a very large extent, substantially, helped us address the issue of crude oil theft.

“That is one thing that has occupied our national life over time. By his commitment, dedication and diligence, Nigeria, as a country, has to a very large extent, reduced the activities of men of the underworld who have consistently engaged in pilfering, taking our common patrimony for their personal gains.

“The NUJ, having assessed the activities of TSSNL, has decided that we must accord the necessary recognition to the man who carries the flag, birthed this security organization, who has exceptionally distinguished himself.

“The NUJ has come to the Oporoza Community in Gbaramatu Kingdom to honour a distinguished son of the Niger Delta; a general in his own right who has distinguished himself, ensures and maintains an appreciable level of internal security.

“We have come to confer on him, the Internal Security Meritorious Award of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.

“In the course of the national security conference, held in Abuja, only one award had been approved and it is conferred on Dr Government Ekpemupolo.

“I’m also excited that I’m doing this after 61 years of the existence of the NUJ, this award is coming up at this time.

“It is not just an honour to Tompolo but also an honour to me too. It is an honour to all of us and what that means is that the issue of insecurity is not just the responsibility of government but of every Nigerian.

“When you provide information, and intelligence to security operatives and agencies, you have contributed in some measures to reducing the problem of insecurity in the land.

“So, it is a collective responsibility, and all hands must be on deck to ensure we address our problems.

“If Nigeria is peaceful, every part of the country, including your household, will be peaceful and that will give birth to development and progress."