Follow Us on Google
From Ben Dunno, Warri
The new Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF), Operations Delta Safe (OPDS), Rear Admiral Noel Madugu, has expressed willingness to work harmoniously with various private security outfits within Niger Delta region, in order to achieve desired results in protecting the nation’s critical assets and boosting daily oil production.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Headquarters of Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL) in Warri, yesterday, Rear Admiral Madugu, noted that his core mandate to ensure crude oil production of between 2.5m to 3m barrels per day can only be realized with the support of the private security outfits in the region.
While also soliciting the cooperation of community indigenes and other stakeholders within coverage areas, the OPDS Commander who was on the visit with Principal staff of the unit, comprising: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Civil Defense Corps and DSS, reaffirmed commitment to safeguarding oil installations within the zone.
According to him; “I have a mandate, same as Tantita, that crude oil production must rise to between 2.5 million bpd and 3 million bpd. This mandate cannot be achieved without collaboration with all necessary stakeholders”.
“On assumption of duty as Commander of OPDS, I said I must go round all my areas of responsibilities, including Tantita and other private surveillance companies”.
“I believe before the end of 2025, we will achieve or surpass the 2.5 million mandate,” he said.
Madugu, who was accompanied by Navy Capt. Ikenna Okoloagu, the Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Base (FOB) Escravos of the Nigerian Navy, advised Tantita to do more sensitisation, carry communities along, and provide more corporate social responsibilities to the people.
He thanked the management of Tantita for the reception and assured the company of a stronger collaboration.
Earlier, the Managing Director of TSSNL, Engr Kestin Pondi, craved a stronger synergy between the company and JTF in the fight against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.
Pondi acknowledged the huge roles government agencies play in the success of Tantita’s operations, reiterating that many persons had shed their blood to ensure that crude oil production increased.
“We want a stronger collaboration to sustain what we have achieved and also push further to achieve more.
Other News
“Without you, we cannot achieve this success. To get to where we are today, many people have shed their blood.
“Our staff are shot every now and then, we have also lost people, the military and civil defence have also lost persons in the fight against illegalities.
“Without the collaboration with the JTF, I do not think we can face the perpetrators.
“So this collaboration is something we cannot underestimate; we need it always to ensure that Nigeria gets improved crude oil production,” he said.
Pondi noted that there had not been any incidents of oil theft in Delta in the past four months.
He, however, said that there were pockets of issues in Bayelsa and Rivers within the same period.
The Managing Director said that beyond improving the nation’s crude oil output, the engagement of Tantita had also improved the coastal ecosystem.
“It was a terrible situation in the Niger Delta as it concerns the environment and as it concerns us as a nation when our oil production was hovering between 700,000 and 800,000 bpd.
“Today, our environment is getting cleaner, aquatic life has returned, children can now swim in our rivers. These are possible with the collaboration with the JTF.
“We adopt different methods, including the carrot and stick approach, where we advise the people. We are happy with the collaboration with the JTF.
“While we have our areas of responsibilities, we also have a contract that empowers us to do certain things.
“If we suspect any barge carrying products, we can double-check its documents to see that it conforms with what they have in their portal,” he said.
