Relief As Tompolo’s Firm, TSSNL Rehabilitates Deplorable Roads in Delta Community

Sylvester Idowu in Warri  

Residents of Bendel Estate, Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State were in joyous mood yesterday, following the completion of repair works in major roads crossing the community by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, (TSSNL) a firm operated by Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.

The roads in the estate located at Effurun, the commercial city, near Warri were in deplorable state over the years until the recent intervention by the private pipeline security surveillance company headed by Tompolo.

THISDAY gathered that residents of the upscale and elitist Bendel Estate had been having terrible experiences driving in and out of the settlement neglected by successive state and local government administrations preceding Governor Oborevwori’s.

The roads were littered with deep craters and big pot holes, particularly at a spot by NNPC junior staff club and became nightmare to residents and visitors.

It was however observed yesterday that the main road leading to the estate, from the junction at Avweniyare filling station down to the terminal point has been repaired and tarred with adjoining ones and motorists driving without let or hindrance.

THISDAY investigations revealed that the board of the company chaired by Tompolo, took the decision to repair some strategic roads in the commercial city at a meeting held in May.

It was also gathered that the board of the company was worried by the deplorable state of some important roads in the area and the plight of road users and residents in general.

To drive home the board’s resolution, a construction company was hired and mobilised to the sites to kick-start the initiative.

Already, the initiative, which the company’s sources said was aimed at complementing Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s developmental strides in the state, has seen to the repair of roads.

When THISDAY visited the area, motorists and residents of the area were seen in celebratory mood praising and pouring encomiums on the board and management of TSSNL, especially, its Chairman, Tompolo.

A Keke NAPEP operator, Mr. Ezekiel Akpofure, said it has become easy for himself and his colleagues to operate in Bendel Estate after the intervention.

“We are happy and joyful that Tompolo has come to our aid. We have been suffering over the years, spending all our earnings on repair of our Keke. Our appeals to a former Chairman of Uvwie LGA, Mr. Ramson Onoyake, when he was in office, fell on deaf ears. Mr. Onoyake merely did some shoddy works at a point but Tompolo has come to rescue us.”

“We now operate on smooth and well tarred roads in Bendel Estate. We can now save some that we used to expend regularly on the repair of our Keke. We are happy and grateful to Chief Tompolo,” Akpofure said in excitement.

Also reacting to the development, Chief Julius urged all well to do citizens to emulate Tompolo adding: “We have been suffering and begging for help on the Bendel Estate roads for years to no avail but God has finally heard and answered our prayers through Tompolo.

“If all wealthy citizens behave the way Tompolo does by being public-spirited and philanthropic, Nigeria would have been a better place. They should emulate him.

“We are indeed very grateful to Tompolo. We learnt that it’s not easy to see him otherwise we would have raised a delegation to meet with him. But since we cannot see him, we pray God to continue to preserve him in good health and grant him long life to enable him to continue to serve humanity.”

The Managing Director of TSSNL, Chief Keston Pondi, ignored persistent calls and text messages sent to him to confirm if Tantita was responsible for the repair works.

But a reliable source close to the company confirmed that the Tantita funded the rehabilitation works on the roads.

According to the source, “I can tell you that Tantita is responsible for the repair of the roads in Bendel Estate but you know that the Chairman (Tompolo) the Vice Chairman, Engineer Mathew Tonlagha and MD, Chief Keston Pondi, do not like public show of philanthropic gestures.

“Whenever these kind-hearted and God-sent personalities are used by God to help humanity in any form, they don’t like to advertise or go to the public to announce what they have done.

“But I can tell you for free that the board of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited decided to intervene in the repair of some roads in our locality, especially in Bendel Estate, in Uvwie LGA of Delta State, to compliment the vision of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, in advancing Delta State and for Tantita to be part of the total package of M.O.R.E. Agenda of His Excellency, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. The governor needs the support of all and sundry and that is what Tantita has offered to do.”