Residents of Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, have commended Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), a pipeline security surveillance company operated by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, for fixing some deplorable roads in the oil rich city.

This followed a resolution by the board of the company, chaired by Tompolo, to repair some strategic roads in the commercial city as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) to bring respite to commuters.

The initiative was also to complement Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s developmental strides, hence the repairs of roads in Bendel Estate axis of Effurun, the headquarters of Uvwie Local Government Area.

Residents of Bendel Estate hitherto had harrowing experience passing through the roads because of the deplorable condition, which has been in bad shape over the years, neglected by successive state and local authorities preceding Oborevwori’s administration.

The roads were littered with deep craters and big potholes, particularly at a spot by the NNPC Junior Staff Club, as they became nightmares to residents and visitors.

However, some journalists that visited the areas on Wednesday reported that the plight of the road users and commuters in the area has been consigned to history as both residents and motorists heaved a sigh of relief.

The main road leading to the Estate, from Avweniyeri Filling Station junction down to the terminal point has been tarred just as the adjoining roads were not left out as it is visible that motorists now drive smoothly on the road without any hindrance.

Motorists and residents of the area are now in celebration mood, showering praises on the board and management of TSSNL, especially its chairman, Tompolo.

A Keke NAPEP operator in Bendel Estate, Mr. Ezekiel Akpofure, talked about how it has become easy for him and his colleagues to operate in Bendel Estate after the repairs.

“We are happy and joyful that Tompolo has come to our aid. We have been suffering over the years, spending all our earnings on the repairs of our Keke. Our appeals to the former Chairman of Uvwie LGA, Mr. Ramson Onoyake, when he was in office, fell on deaf ears. Mr. Onoyake merely did some shoddy work at one 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 money we used to expend regularly on the repairs of our Keke. We are happy and grateful to Chief Tompolo,” Akpofure said in excitement.

Another Keke NAPEP operator in the Estate, Seidu Abdullahi, who hails from Kano State, was also excited in an interview with some Journalists.

Abdullahi said: “Initially, we thought the roads were being repaired by the Government because we didn’t see anything to suggest that a private individual or company could be responsible. We only got to know that Chief Tompolo asked his company to do this (repairs of roads) for us in Bendel Estate, after so many enquiries.”

“We are so grateful to him for this rare show of humanity. I have been operating my Keke in Bendel Estate for 5 years, this is the first time I am finding it easy to operate because I now drive on smooth roads. We are poor people, we don’t have anything to offer Chief Tompolo, other than to pray for him and his team that God continues to grant them robust health and abundant prosperity,” Abdullahi added.

Chief Julius Ogie said:”A-well- to-do citizens should emulate Tompolo.

“We have been suffering and begging for help on the Bendel Estate Roads for years to no avail but God has finally 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 to God to continue to preserve him in good health and grant him long life to enable him to continue to serve humanity,” the octogenarian further stated.

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

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

The source said: “I can tell you that Tantita is responsible for the repairs 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.

“They keep their philanthropic gestures in the lives of the people from the public domain because they believe that God gave them the resources to help humanity and they are answerable to Him. They are not the typical wealthy Nigerians who engage in public shows after offering help for the people. If you like, continue to send messages and call, they won’t respond because they are not ready to discuss this good gesture in the media.

“But, I can tell you for free that the board of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited decided to intervene in the repairs 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.

“It’s our conviction in Tantita that all oil majors and indigenous oil firms should continue to contribute and champion improved economic empowerment and practical interventions to improve the livelihood of our people in the Niger Delta.

“We are determined to continue to promote socio-economic and Infrastructural development in the communities where we operate and we are poised to do more in building strong collaboration with local stakeholders and contribute to the overall economic prosperity of our dear country, Nigeria,” the source, who craved not to be mentioned in the print added.