Follow Us on Google
From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Former Niger Delta militants have cautioned that calls to decentralise the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) by the Federal Government would be dangerous and counterproductive.
The ex-agitators, alongside the Board of Trustees (BoT), Critical Stakeholders Forum (CSF), and the Foundation for Heritage Advancement and Development in the Niger Delta, gave the warning after their meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
They described the call to tamper with the framework of the contract under the leadership of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, as premature and fraught with potential danger.
According to them, any attempt to distort the existing structure would create operational confusion, encourage rivalry among multiple actors, weaken accountability, undermine coordination and efficiency, and create security gaps that criminal elements could exploit, among other consequences.
They commended President Bola Tinubu for approving the renewal of the contract, saying the president acted in line with the wishes of the overwhelming majority of critical stakeholders and ordinary people, who have seen the stabilising impact of Tantita’s operations in the Niger Delta.
The stakeholders also hailed the National Assembly for passing a vote of confidence in Tantita’s operations and Tompolo’s leadership.
The stakeholders’ communiqué was signed by High Chief Reuben Clifford Wilson, BoT Chairman, BSF; Mr Ezekiel Akpasibewei, First Phase Ex-Militant Leaders; Chief Francis Waiwei, Executive Director, FHADND; Comrade Nature Dumale Kieghe, BoT Secretary; Prince Emeka Igwe, Imo State Coordinator; Ideye Granvile (Rivers); High Chief Andabafa Opunama (Delta); Darikoro Alfred, Bayelsa Coordinator; High Chief Niko Sintei (Akwa Ibom); Frankly Duduku (Cross River); Godgift Ayabowei (Bayelsa); Amb. Kenneth Ekberi (Rivers); and Chief Oyetakin Senator (Ondo).
Other News
They recalled that, before the era of Tantita’s operations, the Niger Delta was notorious for oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegal bunkering, sabotage of oil infrastructure, and environmental degradation.
The stakeholders noted that, following the surveillance contract, all the vices had reduced to their barest minimum, adding that the current operational framework has led to improved field coordination, stronger local intelligence gathering, and increased operational vigilance, among other gains.
“In simple terms, the present structure is working and what is working should be strengthened and not dismantled. Pipeline surveillance in the Niger Delta is not an ordinary contract, it is a national security responsibility tied directly to Nigeria’s economic survival”, the stakeholders said.
The stakeholders said: “The current arrangement under Tantita has over time developed the institutional familiarity, operational experience, and local legitimacy required to function effectively in such a sensitive environment. To suddenly fragment such framework in the name of decentralisation would amount to disrupting a system that has already demonstrated effectiveness.
“We must state clearly that pipeline security should never be politicised or reduced to a sharing formula for sectional, political, or patronage interest. Nigeria’s strategic oil assets are too important to be subjected to experiments driven by personal ambition, regional pressure, or political bargaining. The overriding consideration must always be national interest, operational effectiveness, and sustainable peace in the Niger Delta.
“We, therefore, urge all well-meaning stakeholders and leaders to support the preservation and strengthening of the current surveillance framework in the overall interest of peace, security, and economic stability in the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.
“We are also using this medium to assure Mr President that he will be given overwhelming bulk votes in the forthcoming 2027 presidential election in the Niger Delta region because of his speedy approval of the renewal of the pipeline security and surveillance job for Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.
“The renewal of this job has renewed the hopes and strengthened the confidence of ordinary Niger Deltans in Mr President. The Niger Delta people are excited to continue plying their trades without the fear of sea pirates’ attacks and the negative effects of illegal oil bunkering activities in their communities.”
