Group Backs Tantita Pipeline Surveillance Contract, Urges Continuity

Protesters under the aegis of Concerned Niger Delta Stakeholders gathered at the National Assembly on Tuesday to voice their support for the ongoing pipeline surveillance contract currently managed by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.

The demonstrators carried placards bearing messages such as “Nigeria cannot afford setbacks in oil security,” “Don’t disrupt Niger Delta peace,” and “Say no to disruption of national security efforts.”

Addressing journalists, the group’s spokesperson, Duduke Ebitimi, outlined the role Tantita has played in improving security and stability across the Niger Delta, citing increased oil production and a reduction in illegal activities.

According to Ebitimi, the national economy had faced severe threats from unchecked oil theft and pipeline vandalism before the security firm’s engagement. He noted that widespread illegal bunkering and the proliferation of makeshift refineries had led to extensive environmental degradation in the region.

“The Niger Delta was a cooking hub of crude oil, where illegal refineries dot its landscape, sending thick smokes into the atmosphere,” he said. “This high level of pollution caused environmental hazards and created various ailments and sicknesses, including cancer, in the region.”

He further stated that since Tantita assumed the surveillance role, stability has been restored, crude oil production has risen to over two million barrels per day, and critical infrastructure has been better protected. The arrangement has also provided employment opportunities for thousands of youths and strengthened collaboration with security agencies, he added.

Ebitimi stressed the need to maintain the current contract framework, noting that it had delivered tangible benefits to peace, security, and the economy of both the Niger Delta and the nation.

“The pipeline surveillance contract is a professional security initiative awarded through a competitive process. Tantita and its partners won it on merit, having demonstrated the capacity, discipline, and organisation to manage it effectively,” he said.

The group called on the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to sustain support for the contract and its operational framework in order to preserve security gains and drive continued development across the region.