[THREAD] #Nigeria: Long considered enemy number one of the Nigerian federal government, Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, has just been awarded several security contracts along the Niger Delta. Rather than fight him Buhari has resigned to work with him. 🧵 1/7
Oil theft in Nigeria's Niger Delta region has become rampant. President Muhammadu Buhari is offering contracts to the powerful leaders of armed local political groups in the hopes of being able to use their influence to the advantage of his party in the 2023 elections. 2/7
The federal state has awarded Tompolo several multi-million dollar contracts to handle security along the pipelines. These were signed off by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp (NNPC). 3/7
Their goal is clear: the Niger Delta region, with its nine states, has around 40 million inhabitants, the majority of which traditionally vote for the main opposition party, the PDP. The APC is hoping it can ease tensions in the region and win votes. 4/7
Sylva and Buhari have made a simple calculation: in exchange for these profitable contracts, the former MEND heads will hit back at the illegal oil bunkering that they once controlled. 5/7
In order to fight the oil theft, Tompolo will have to deal with another priority mission: convincing one of the most important businessmen in the region, who is involved in oil theft and trafficking, to stop his activities. 6/7
Find out all the details of the Nigerian federal government's uncertain strategy here: africaintelligence.com/west-africa/20…
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