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Traditional rulers and community leaders in the Niger Delta have thrown their weight behind Tantita Security Services Limited, calling for sustained support for the firm following a vote of confidence passed by the National Assembly of Nigeria.
The endorsement comes after a joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives dismissed multiple petitions against the company, a decision widely welcomed across oil-bearing communities.
President-General of the Isoko Development Union, Christopher Akpotu, described the move as a step in the right direction for the region. He urged stakeholders to shift focus from internal disputes to collective economic gains, warning that persistent infighting could open the door for external actors to benefit at the expense of host communities.
While acknowledging concerns over uneven distribution of opportunities, Akpotu maintained that the surveillance contract has delivered tangible benefits, particularly in youth engagement and community development. He, however, called on Tantita to adopt a more inclusive approach by involving traditional rulers, community leaders and youths to ensure fairness and long-term sustainability.
In a similar vein, President-General of the Ughelli Descendants Union, Sam Akpemegi, praised the company’s performance, noting significant improvements in pipeline security since the commencement of its operations. He said the firm’s deployment of both covert and overt strategies has helped stabilise communities, adding that its activities currently cover more than 80 per cent of the area while providing employment for local youths.
Also lending his voice, the Odiologbo of Ofagbe Kingdom, Ogaga Ikpoku, described the National Assembly’s decision as timely and beneficial to peace and stability in oil-producing communities. He urged stakeholders to sustain the current momentum in securing critical oil infrastructure.
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Chairman of the Host Communities Traditional Rulers of Nigeria and Ovie of Great Idjerhe Kingdom, Monday Obukohwo Whiskey, also welcomed the development, describing it as a reinforcement of trust in the company’s operations. He argued that criticisms against Tantita were largely driven by its refusal to compromise professional standards, and advocated the renewal and expansion of its contract.
According to him, illegal bunkering remains a challenge in areas yet to be covered by the firm, stressing that his community has benefited significantly, with over 60 indigenes employed and a noticeable reduction in crime and other social vices.
Echoing this position, a surveillance worker, Felix Onoriode, said the extension of Tantita’s operations to his Isoko community in 2024 had created jobs and reduced youth involvement in crime. He dismissed calls for decentralising the contract, warning that such a move could undermine efficiency and create unnecessary bureaucracy.
Providing insight into the National Assembly’s decision, Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Ikenga Ugochinyere, said all allegations against the firm were thoroughly investigated but found to lack merit. His Senate counterpart, Agom Jarigbe, emphasised the need for policy consistency, cautioning against disrupting a system already delivering results.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, noted that improved pipeline security has helped boost Nigeria’s oil production to about 1.8 million barrels per day, while significantly reducing illegal tapping points and crude losses.
He recalled that Nigeria had previously lost between 10 and 30 per cent of its crude oil output annually to theft, costing billions of dollars. According to him, the introduction of the pipeline surveillance framework—incorporating private security operators and community-based structures—has not only improved production but also created thousands of jobs, offering alternative livelihoods for youths and strengthening community participation in protecting critical national assets.
