Niger Delta Leaders Back Tantita After Legislative Approval
By Patience Ikpeme
Traditional rulers and community leaders across the Niger Delta have voiced strong support for Tantita Security Services Limited, calling for the expansion of its mandate following a formal vote of confidence from the National Assembly.
The endorsement comes as stakeholders point to a sharp decline in pipeline vandalism and a revitalization of local economies since the firm began its surveillance operations. The legislative backing, provided by a joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives, effectively dismissed various petitions against the security outfit, a move local leaders describe as a victory for regional stability.
The President-General of the Isoko Development Union (IDU), Christopher Akpotu, praised the National Assembly for its decision, noting that the focus must now shift toward collective economic growth.
“That is the right way to go,” Akpotu stated. “There are many opportunities in the oil and gas sector. We should focus on how to derive more benefits rather than fighting over what has already been allocated. At the end of the day, if we continue fighting, we give room to those who have no stake in our communities to take what rightfully belongs to us.”
While acknowledging that the distribution of benefits remains a work in progress, Akpotu pointed to the visible impact on the region’s youth.
“The truth is that many communities and youths have benefited from the surveillance contract. It may not be evenly distributed, but the impact is evident,” he said. He further advised the firm to deepen its engagement with traditional institutions to ensure a more inclusive and equitable framework moving forward.
Mirroring this sentiment, Sam Akpemegi, President-General of the Ughelli Descendants Union, noted that the firm’s strategy has effectively secured over 80 per cent of the communities in his jurisdiction. “They have done very well and improved security since they began operations,” Akpemegi remarked. “They have impacted both the palace and the indigenous people positively.”
In the Great Idjerhe Kingdom, the Chairman of the Host Communities Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (HOSCON), His Majesty King Monday Obukohwo Whiskey, suggested that the opposition against the firm often stems from its strict adherence to operational protocols.
“One of the reasons for the attacks against Tantita is its refusal to compromise professional standards in securing sensitive assets across the Niger Delta,” the monarch said. “If people cannot challenge oil bloc owners, import licence holders or lifting right operators, why target Tantita?”
The Ovie revealed that his community alone has seen over 60 indigenes gainfully employed through the contract, which has directly led to a reduction in social vices. He argued that because illegal bunkering persists in areas outside the firm’s current reach, the Federal Government should consider a renewal and expansion of the contract.
The success of the surveillance model is also reflected in national production figures. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, noted that Nigeria’s oil production has climbed to approximately 1.8 million barrels per day. He linked this recovery to the dismantling of illegal tapping points and the provision of alternative livelihoods for thousands of youths who were once involved in agitation.
“It was within this context that the federal government introduced the pipeline surveillance contract, including the engagement of private security actors and community-based structures,” Tajudeen explained, adding that the move has helped curb the annual loss of 10 to 30 per cent of crude output to theft.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Ikenga Ugochinyere, confirmed that the legislature’s support followed a rigorous review of all complaints. “There is no credible evidence to sustain any of the allegations. Accordingly, all complaints against Tantita are hereby dismissed,” Ugochinyere said.
Senator Agom Jarigbe, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), warned that changing the current security architecture would be risky. “Disrupting a system that is already delivering results would be counterproductive. Our responsibility is to ensure stability,” Jarigbe said.
From the perspective of those on the ground, the impact is personal. Felix Onoriode, a surveillance worker in an Isoko community, credited the contract with taking his peers off the streets. “Many of our youths who used to engage in crime have been taken off the streets because the contract created jobs for them,” Onoriode said. “There is no need to change a winning team. Allowing Tantita to handle the contract has improved efficiency, reduced bureaucratic delays and ensured clearer lines of responsibility. Decentralisation will only create confusion.”
