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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
A coalition of Niger Delta stakeholders yesterday staged a protest at the National Assembly, opposing proposals to decentralise the pipeline surveillance contract currently managed by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.
Operating under the banner of Concerned Niger Delta Stakeholders, the group warned that any attempt to alter the existing contract structure could erode the security and economic gains recorded in the oil-rich region in recent years.
The protesters, who carried placards with messages such as “Nigeria cannot afford setbacks in oil security” and “Don’t destroy Niger Delta peace for self-interest,” described the push for decentralisation as driven by narrow interests rather than public good.
Addressing journalists during the demonstration, spokesperson Duduke Ebitimi said the Niger Delta had witnessed significant instability before the introduction of the current surveillance framework, with rampant oil theft, pipeline vandalism, kidnappings and piracy crippling crude oil production.
He noted that at the height of the crisis, Nigeria’s oil output dropped drastically to between 800,000 and 900,000 barrels per day, largely due to the activities of illegal oil operators.
Ebitimi also highlighted the environmental toll of unchecked oil bunkering, pointing to widespread pollution caused by makeshift refineries that littered the region and emitted harmful substances into the atmosphere, resulting in health complications for residents.
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He added that the breakdown of order in the region had triggered repeated protests and disruptions, particularly along key routes such as the East-West Road.
According to the group, the engagement of Tantita has since reversed the trend, restoring relative peace, boosting oil production to over two million barrels per day, and significantly reducing illegal bunkering activities.
They further argued that the contract had generated employment for local youths, enhanced cooperation with security agencies, and strengthened the protection of vital oil infrastructure.
The protesters dismissed calls for decentralisation, insisting that those behind the campaign lacked the competence and organisational capacity required to manage such a critical national assignment.
They also cautioned against linking the contract to political interests ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to maintain the current arrangement.
The group stressed that the surveillance contract was awarded through due process and based on merit, advising interested parties to seek opportunities through legitimate bidding channels rather than pushing for changes that could destabilise the region.
