By Our Correspondent

National Assembly joint Committees on Petroleum Resources has dismissed three petitions against the pipeline surveillance contract, while passing a vote of confidence on Tantita Security Service, the security agents and the NNPCL for helping to restore the nation’s oil production.

Oil production, according to available records to the panel stood at about 1.8 million barrels per day as at April, an increase from the about nine hundred thousand liters per day in 2022 when the surveillance contract was awarded.

The resolution followed a motion moved by the Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources, Midstream, Henry Okojie at a one day parliamentary roundtable on the state of pipeline security and the battle against crude oil theft on Wednesday.

Okojie said that Tantita and the security agencies have recorded lots of achievements in securing the nation’s petroleum assets, thereby increasing oil revenue for the country.

Speaking at the roundtable, Speaker of the House of the apex legislature,Rt Hon Abbas Tajudeen said despite the ongoing tensions in the Middle East and the protracted conflict involving Russia and Ukraine, the need for valiant efforts at finding alternative energy sources has become necessary, adding that crude oil still remains the largest source of primary energy in the world, especially the transport sector where it still powers 95 percent of all vehicles, planes and ships.

The Speaker said the current crises, particularly with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has resulted in price surges and supply shortages, with consequential impact on the nation’s economic survival, saying “as a nation, we must rise to the challenge, and this roundtable is a clear indication that the National Assembly is ready to lead the way.

He said further that in order to understand why the surveillance contract became necessary, “we must remember that Nigeria’s journey as an oil-producing nation has been a very challenging one.

“The discovery of petroleum has both earned us massive foreign exchange and resulted in environmental degradation and despair. As a result, the Niger Delta has witnessed profound agitations over the years which often resulted in pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, and illegal refining activities.

“Desperate communities and weak enforcement structures created a climate of instability in the oil sector with staggering consequences.

“At some point, Nigeria was losing billions of dollars annually as between 10 to 30 percent of crude oil production was lost to theft, undermining national revenue and questioning our capacity to remain a reliable oil producer.

“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.

“These interventions were designed to provide security to our oil facilities, with the understanding that without the help of the communities where these pipelines and other infrastructure were located, the job of securing them would be impossible.

“In the end, the synergy of private surveillance providers, our security agencies, and community engagement, led to remarkable improvements in our daily production quotas.”

The number four citizen of Nigeria said further that there has been clear undeniable and compelling success stories, saying “recent reports indicate that most of the illegal tapping points have been dismantled, production levels have improved significantly and oil receipts are approaching near-total delivery to export terminals, compared to the alarming losses of previous years when production sometimes plummeted to about 700 barrels per day.

“Today, largely due to these surveillance/security efforts, we have been able to ramp up production to about 1.8 million barrel per day. Importantly, the surveillance contract has been able to create direct employment for thousands of Niger Delta youths who were formerly agitators, providing a legitimate
alternative to crime, and placing security back in the hands of the people who host the facilities.

“There is no doubt that we can do better. There are still a number of challenges, particularly as they concern accountability, transparency, and the effectiveness of certain surveillance frameworks.

“Recent public discourse suggests that crude oil theft still occurs at concerning levels, sometimes even under existing security arrangements. This underscores the need for continuous oversight and reform”.

He said the National Assembly has remained at the forefront of confronting the challenges in the oil sector and has through legislation, oversight, and appropriation taken deliberate steps to strengthen Nigeria’s response to threats to our oil industry.

He said “we have enacted and reviewed laws such as the Petroleum Production and Distribution (Anti-Sabotage) Act and other relevant statutes aimed at deterring-pipeline vandalism while emplacing stringent penalties.

“We have also worked to strengthen institutions like the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), recognizing the need for improved monitoring and environmental accountability.

“Both are the fruits of comprehensive and deliberate policy actions that were enabled by the passing of the landmark Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). Some of the provisions of this act, like the Host Community Development Trust, made Corporate Social Responsibility a legal mandate and gave host communities a direct financial stake in the profitability of the oil sector.

“Moreover, by legislating that communities forfeit their entitlement for the year if vandalism occurs in their domain, the law operationalized the concept of “shared responsibility.” Communities now police their own areas, knowing that an attack on a pipeline becomes an attack on their trust fund.

“The 10th National Assembly has continued to take bold legislative steps to institutionalize the gains of the PIA. From maintaining a rigorous oversight of the Act to ensure steady implementation, to our recent investigative hearings on oil theft, we are closing the legal loopholes that once allowed criminals to thrive.

‘Furthermore, this Assembly has exercised its constitutional mandate by probing aspects of the surveillance contract, approving critical funding for pipeline security, and insisting that crude oil theft be treated not just as an economic crime, but as a national security threat requiring coordinated action across agencies.

“In summary, we have consistently emphasized that curbing crude oil theft must be a collective responsibility, involving government, host communities, security agencies, and private operators alike.”

The Speaker said the event was an opportunity to advance the fortunes of the oil industry by consolidating on the gains made so far from the surveillance contract, while addressing existing gaps, while also
reassessing the current pipeline surveillance architecture, strengthen transparency and accountability mechanisms, deepen community engagement as critical stakeholders in protecting national assets, and align legislative frameworks with emerging realities in the oil and gas sector, particularly under the circumstances the world has now found itself.

He said “let us remember that the story of Nigeria’s oil industry is not only one of challenges, but also of resilience and possibility. Let us build a system where pipelines are no longer targets, but symbols of shared prosperity; where host communities are not marginalized, but empowered partners; and where Nigeria’s oil wealth translates into sustainable national development.

“The Middle East is in turmoil, Russia is distracted, and global energy maps are being redrawn. The world is looking for energy security, and Nigeria must put itself out there as a credible alternative. We cannot afford the luxury of internal sabotage. Our message to the world is clear: Nigeria is securing its assets, stabilizing its output, and is open for business.”

By David Owei,Bayelsa

Leaders of the Third Phase of the Presidential Amnesty Programme have strongly endorsed the retention of the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), owned by High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo. They have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resist calls for the contract’s termination or fragmentation, describing such moves as detrimental to the hard-won peace and security in the Niger Delta region.

In a statement issued by National Chairman Gen. Elaye Slaboh (T.D. Dollars) and the national executive, the group warned that any disruption to Tantita’s mandate would jeopardise recent gains in combating crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, and pipeline vandalism. They emphasised that no other individual or entity possesses the local influence, community trust, and operational expertise required to effectively safeguard Nigeria’s critical oil infrastructure.

“Those agitating for the cancellation or decentralisation of the contract are enemies of the fragile peace we have achieved in the Niger Delta,” the leaders declared. They cautioned that reversing the current arrangement could trigger a resurgence of economic sabotage, leading to a sharp decline in crude oil production and significant revenue losses for the national economy.

The amnesty leaders alleged that the campaign against Tantita is largely orchestrated by oil thieves, pipeline vandals, and other vested interests intent on undermining progress in the fight against oil theft. They further claimed that political opponents of the Tinubu administration are exploiting the issue to sabotage the Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections, while seeking to distract from Tompolo’s grassroots mobilisation efforts in support of the President’s re-election bid.

Gen. Slabor highlighted Tantita’s innovative operational model, which combines robust pipeline protection with extensive community engagement and sustainable development initiatives. This holistic approach, he noted, is unprecedented in the Niger Delta and has been instrumental in fostering long-term regional stability and economic recovery.

Rather than fragmenting the surveillance framework, the group advised the Federal Government to focus on reviewing and revoking oil wells operated by non-indigenes of the Niger Delta, with a view to reallocating them to genuine local stakeholders. Such a policy, they argued, would promote authentic indigenous participation, strengthen community ownership, and contribute to more sustainable national oil security.

This position from Third Phase Amnesty Programme leaders underscores the strategic importance of a unified, effective surveillance mechanism in protecting Nigeria’s economic lifeline while advancing inclusive development in the oil-producing region. The Federal Government is expected to weigh these perspectives carefully as it reviews arrangements for safeguarding petroleum assets.

By David Owei

Protesters under the aegis of Concerned Niger Delta Stakeholders on Tuesday stormed the National Assembly, opposing calls to decentralise the pipeline surveillance contract currently handled by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.

The protesters described the agitation for a review of the contract framework as self-serving, warning that any attempt to alter the arrangement could reverse the security gains recorded in the region.

The demonstrators displayed placards during the protest carrying inscriptions such as “Nigeria cannot afford setbacks in oil security,” “Don’t destroy Niger Delta peace for self-interest,” “Nobody can threaten 2027 election based on pipeline contract”, “say no to disruption of national security efforts”, among others.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Hon. Duduke Ebitimi, recalled that before the engagement of Tantita, the Niger Delta was plagued by widespread criminality, including pipeline vandalism, oil theft, kidnappings and sea piracy, which significantly reduced crude oil output and undermined the national economy.

He said: “The national economy collapsed following increasing unchecked activities of oil thieves and pipeline vandals. In fact, production vices were reported to be high making daily production output to hover within 800,000 to 900,000 barrels per day. These local and international oil thieves almost shut down the country, whose survival depends solely on oil flowing from the Niger Delta.

“The entire environment in the Niger Delta was devastated because of illegal oil bunkering and many illegal refineries that sprang up 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. This high level of pollution caused environmental hazards and created various ailments and sicknesses including cancer in the region.

“There was no peace in the Niger Delta as various stakeholders took to the streets and major roads to Carry out various protests. In fact, the East-West Road was the worst hit at the time.”

Ebitimi, however, maintained that the surveillance contract had helped restore stability, improved oil production to over two million barrels per day, and curtailed illegal bunkering activities across the region.

According to them, the initiative has also created employment opportunities for thousands of youths, strengthened collaboration with security agencies and enhanced protection of critical oil infrastructure.

The group rejected calls for decentralisation, insisting that those pushing for the move lacked the capacity and were driven by personal interests rather than the collective good of the Niger Delta.

They also cautioned against politicising the contract or linking it to the 2027 general elections, urging the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to sustain and expand the current arrangement.

“We want to state unequivocally that the individuals agitating to alter the framework of the contract are motivated by greed and jealousy and do not represent the interest of the Niger Delta. Nobody changes a working system. As stakehokders in the Niger Delta and Nigeria, we have seen the benefits of the existing framework to peace, security and economy of the Niger Delta and Nigeria and we want the same system to continue unhindered.

“We have also evaluated the characters of people demanding decentralistion of the contract and we make bold to say that they lack the capacity, the discipline, qualities and the organisation required to manage any part of the contract.

“We want to remind these individuals that the pipeline surveilance contract is not a gift to Tantita and Tompolo. It is a serious security contract that goes through a bidding process.

“Tantita and Tompolo won it on merit having displayed the capacity, discipline and organisation to handle it. Those, who need contracts should put themselves together and bid for others in various sectors of the economy”, the group added.