Tompolo donates ₦10bn as Delta launches security trust fund

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By Joseph Irikefe

 

Delta State on Wednesday recorded a major boost in its drive to strengthen security as ex-militant leader and founder of Tantita Security Services Limited, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, donated ₦10 billion to the reactivated Delta State Security Trust Fund.

The landmark donation — the single largest at the launch event held at the Government House Banquet Hall, Asaba — was announced by Chief Keston Pondi on behalf of Tompolo and Tantita Security Services.

“What we are launching today goes beyond a financial contribution; it is a strategic investment in peace, progress, and the protection of lives and property,” Pondi said, reaffirming Tantita’s support for the governor’s security agenda.

A renewed strategy for safety

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who officially launched the Trust Fund, described the initiative as a cornerstone of his administration’s security and development strategy. He emphasized that peace and security remain prerequisites for economic growth and investor confidence.

“Without adequate security, development cannot thrive, businesses cannot operate freely, and investors will be reluctant to commit their resources,” Oborevwori said. “This Trust Fund represents our shared commitment to peace, public safety, and sustainable growth.”

The governor explained that the Fund — first established by law in 2013 — would finance the procurement of surveillance equipment, patrol vehicles, and communication systems. It will also support the training and empowerment of security personnel and community vigilantes across the state’s 25 local government areas.

As part of broader reforms, he announced the rebranding of Operation Delta Hawk to Operation Delta Sweep — now a joint task force comprising the military, police, DSS, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Private sector joins the drive

The event drew top business leaders and security stakeholders, with several pledging significant support. Group Chairman of Access Holdings Plc and Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, donated ₦100 million personally, projecting that the Fund could mobilize as much as ₦100 billion in 2025.

Zenith Bank founder and Special Guest of Honour, Mr. Jim Ovia, commended the initiative, assuring of continued private-sector partnership. “Security is the bedrock of economic growth,” he said, urging other corporate institutions to contribute.

Transparency and accountability

Executive Secretary of the Delta State Security Trust Fund, Mr. Samuel Osasa, assured stakeholders of full transparency, stating that funds would be deployed strictly for security operations and capacity building.

Governor Oborevwori further revealed that 0.5 percent of the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) is already being dedicated to the fund, describing contributions from individuals and organizations as “investments in the future of Delta State.”

A turning point in Delta’s security framework

Delivering the keynote address, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Marvel Akpoyibo, hailed the governor’s foresight, stressing that security and development are inseparable. He urged sustained investment in infrastructure, intelligence, and training to consolidate the state’s peace efforts.

The launch concluded with pledges of support and a shared resolve to build a safer Delta. But it was Tompolo’s unprecedented ₦10 billion donation that set the tone — signaling a new phase of collaboration between government and private actors in securing the state’s future.