By IN what has been widely hailed as a historic turning point in the relationship between journalism, security, and community development, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), under the visionary leadership of High Chief (Dr.) Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), has delivered far more than just a physical structure to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Warri Correspondents’ Chapel. The company has ignited a ripple of empowerment, strategic communication, and renewed purpose in the war against oil theft in the Niger Delta.
The state-of-the-art Press Centre edifice
For over 30 years, members of the NUJ Warri Chapel operated under the pressure of temporary accommodation and the uncertainties of annual rent. That cycle of precarity has now been broken. With the inauguration of the permanent High Chief Dr. Government Ekpemupolo Press Centre—fully built and furnished by TANTITA—journalists in Warri now have a befitting operational base that, not only inspires dignity, but strengthens their commitment to public service and national development.
Okies Okpomor speaking
Comrade Victor Okpomor, Chairman of the NUJ Warri Chapel, did not mince words in his declaration of gratitude. “Rather than simply giving us fish, they chose to teach us how to fish,” he said, describing the intervention as both practical and visionary. The gesture, according to him, represents a rebirth for the Chapel and a consolidation of its role as a beacon of hope within the NUJ family in Delta State.
NUJ president, Comrade Alhassan Yahyah
The national recognition of this feat came from the President of the NUJ, Comrade Alhassan Yahyah, who described the development as unprecedented in the union’s history. “This is the first time in the history of NUJ that a project like this is being inaugurated for a chapel,” he affirmed, urging Warri journalists to use the space for intellectual exchange and the advancement of journalism.
Capt. Warredi Enisuoh, Executive Director (Technical Operations) of TANTITA
TANTITA’s rationale for this investment, however, goes beyond philanthropy. It is grounded in a strategic understanding that journalists are indispensable allies in the battle against crude oil theft, environmental degradation, and economic sabotage in the Niger Delta. “When we got the contract to protect pipelines, we asked ourselves: how do we tell our story? How do we reach the public?” said Capt. Warredi Enisuoh, Executive Director (Technical Operations) of TANTITA. “This is where the NUJ came in. What we’ve done was not out of favour—it was out of necessity.”
Conference Room of the Press Centre
Enisuoh’s lecture titled: “Fight Against Oil Theft – The Impact of Private Security and the Role of the Media,” at the inauguration, was a masterclass in realism and regional advocacy. He exposed the depth of sabotage that has plagued the oil-rich region—how tankers from Niger Republic cross borders unchallenged to steal crude, how cloned number plates and falsified documents are used to evade detection, and how even registered companies cheat the system. But beyond laying bare the truth, he called on journalists to use their platforms to confront the complicity and conspiracy that enable such crimes.
Official Inauguration of the Press Centre
“People come from Niger Republic to carry the crude oil,” he said bluntly. “The air around Port Harcourt is cleaner now because many illegal refineries are gone—thanks to this project. This is not just about money. It’s about our environment, our health, and our future.”
Captain Enisuoh
In his impassioned treatise, Enisuoh revealed a dire statistic: kidney-related illnesses are becoming rampant in the region due to pollution. “Nine out of 10 people here might have kidney problems and not even know. If someone drops dead beside you, don’t blame their grandmother,” he warned, linking illegal refining activities to public health crises.
Dr Ebenezer Okorudu (middle on blue suit)
Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by Dr. Ebenezer Okorodudu of DESOPADEC, acknowledged the broader significance of the new NUJ secretariat. He described the gesture as a “rare feat unmatched in the country,” lauding TANTITA for going beyond its core mandate to address societal realities.
Hon. Donald Ojogor
The ceremony drew dignitaries from all spheres—traditional rulers, civil society leaders, journalists, military officers, and lawmakers. Hon. Donald Ojogor, a journalist and now member of the House of Representatives, commended Tompolo and TANTITA’s leadership for their foresight. He also hailed the contributions of media figures such as Mr Sola Adebayo and Dr Paul Bebenimibo, who were instrumental in the execution of the project.
From right, Sola Adebayo, Paul Benenimibo PhD, Comrade Alhassan Yahyah, and Comrade Churchill Oyowe
Ojogor, however, delivered a poignant caution to union members: “Anyone with a phone now claims to be a journalist. If you don’t protect this place from quacks, you are undermining your own work.”
From right, Orosuen of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, HRM Ogheneochuko Ohwotemu and the Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, HRM King Monday Obukohwo Whiskey (Udurhie I),
Traditional rulers added cultural and historical weight to the event. The Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, HRM King Monday Obukohwo Whiskey (Udurhie I), a journalist-turned-monarch, gave a deeply personal tribute to the NUJ’s journey in Delta State. “We started this chapel in 1996 during a crisis,” he recalled. “Only two of my colleagues from that time are still here—Otunba Sola Adebayo and Elder Emmanuel Ogoigbe. This building is a testament to our collective resilience.”
The Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom with veteran journalists – Sola Adebayo (left) and Emmanuel Ogoigbe
He called on young journalists to believe in their worth and remain steadfast: “The problem many young journalists have is self-doubt. Be resilient, stay committed. These are the keys that will take you far.”
Orosuen of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, HRM Ogheneochuko Ohwotemu,
The Orosuen of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, HRM Ogheneochuko Ohwotemu, and other dignitaries such as former NUJ President Comrade Chris Isiguzo and Commodore Omatseye Nesiama (rtd) also praised TANTITA’s foresight and reaffirmed the role of the media in securing the region’s resources.
From right, Ebenezer Adurokiya, Betty Idialu and a friend of the house
Crucially, the press centre is not just a building—it is now a symbol. A symbol of what is possible when private sector leadership meets journalistic integrity and public accountability. Since TANTITA began its operations, oil production has increased from about 700–800 barrels per day to over 1.7 million barrels per day. This success has environmental and economic benefits, as federal and state allocations from oil revenues have significantly improved.
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Members of the NUJ Warri Correspondents’ Chapel
In TANTITA’s strategic calculus, journalism is not an observer but a stakeholder. Enisuoh cited global examples to illustrate the power of the press—from CNN’s role in shaping perceptions during the Gulf War to the story of an Australian journalist who sacrificed his business to save an innocent Black youth from execution.
Security chiefs at the event
“Most people don’t know how powerful journalists are,” he said. “You shape perception, you drive national reaction. Your voice can save a nation or sink it.”
Conference Room of the Press Centre
With the inauguration of the High Chief Dr. Government Ekpemupolo Press Centre, the NUJ Warri Chapel now stands as a model of what journalism can achieve when supported, empowered, and engaged. For the people of the Niger Delta, it also signals a future where their stories—of resilience, of justice, and of progress—will be told boldly, accurately, and without compromise.
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This partnership between NUJ Warri and TANTITA is not a one-off; it is the emergence of a new paradigm—where journalism meets security, and truth meets transformation.
Stonix News Editorial Desk writes from Warri, Delta State
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