Tompolo’s Tantita Urges Niger Delta To Shift From Oil Dependency To Agriculture

Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSS), a security firm owned by former militant leader Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, has called on Niger Delta communities to diversify their income sources away from crude oil pipelines. This move, it says will not only improve livelihoods but also reduce environmental degradation in the region, a longstanding issue tied to oil extraction activities.

Speaking at the Pre-Summit Conference of the Pan-Ijaw Economic Summit 2024 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, over the weekend, the Executive Director of Operations and Technical for Tantita, Captain Warredi Enisuoh, emphasised the urgent need for sustainable economic development in the Niger Delta. The event, organized by the Azaiki Foundation in partnership with the Ijaw National Congress, centered on the theme: “Environmental Regeneration and Economic Sustainability.”

Enisuoh stressed that the ongoing oil extraction activities have led to severe environmental degradation in the region, impacting the quality of life for its residents. He urged communities to embrace alternatives such as agriculture and fishing, which can thrive in a healthier ecosystem.

He explained that carbon capture, though not yet widely known in the Niger Delta, could have a profound impact. Enisuoh noted that the region’s environment, abundant with flora such as mango trees, play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide.

Enisuoh called for collaboration with global carbon credit companies and stakeholders interested in green development initiatives. He advocated for improved local infrastructure to support carbon capture initiatives, which could help protect existing resources and ecosystems.

Carbon capture refers to a group of technologies and methods that collect carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions created when fossil fuels are burned for electricity and in factories. The CO₂ that is captured can be stored or used in different ways, which helps stop it from escaping into the air and contributing to climate change.