The Nigerian National Assembly has designated Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited a “Company of Strategic National Economic Interest” and expressed confidence in the firm and NNPCL, citing improved crude oil production
The resolution was reached during a Parliamentary Roundtable on the state of pipeline security and the battle against crude oil theft held at the National Assembly in Abuja.
The National Assembly joint Committees on Petroleum Resources 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, stood at about 1.8 million barrels per day as at April, an increase from the about nine hundred thousand litres 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
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 Representatives 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 a 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
Earlier the Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Chief Kestin Pondi, had told the lawmakers and stakeholders that Nigeria’s gradual recovery in crude oil production is largely the result of improved security coordination and active community participation in protecting oil and gas assets.
Pondi expressed appreciation to the Senate Joint Committees for convening the session, describing it as a critical platform to address challenges confronting the nation’s oil and gas sector.
He recalled that in 2022, when Tantita was awarded the contract to secure critical oil infrastructure, Nigeria’s crude oil production had declined significantly to about 1.1 million barrels per day, including condensates. According to him, the figure has since rebounded to approximately 1.4 million barrels per day, a development he attributed to strategic engagement and collaboration.
“We were given this responsibility at a very critical time, and we remain grateful to Mr. President for the opportunity. Without this platform, our capacity and what we can achieve would not have been fully appreciated,” Pondi said.
Highlighting the company’s operational philosophy, the Tantita boss stressed that sustainable protection of oil assets cannot be achieved without the cooperation of host communities.
“At Tantita, we do not protect assets from the people; we protect the assets with the people. Bringing in those from the creeks, who understand the terrain, has given us better results,” he stated.
He noted that prior to the intervention, Nigeria’s oil production had steadily declined from about 1.8 million barrels per day in 2020 to 1.6 million in 2021, before hitting its lowest point in 2022.
The turnaround, he said, demonstrates the effectiveness of inclusive security architecture.
Pondi, however, acknowledged that the journey has not been without sacrifices, revealing that personnel of Tantita, alongside members of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies, have lost their lives in the course of safeguarding national assets.
“We have worked closely with the Nigerian Army, Navy, Civil Defence Corps, Police, and other agencies. It has not been an easy journey. We have lost soldiers, we have lost our personnel, and we have lost civil defence officers,” he said.
Despite the progress recorded, the Tantita MD maintained that Nigeria still has the potential to achieve higher production levels if more investments are channelled into the sector and existing operational gaps are addressed.
“We can still do better. There are still barriers, and we need to invest more to fully achieve the President’s agenda of increased production,” he added.
Pondi further disclosed that the company has invested heavily in technology and human capital development, while also decentralising operations to ensure wider community involvement and ownership.
According to him, attempts to fragment the security framework could undermine the gains achieved so far, warning that disjointed approaches would reverse progress.
“There is no way we could have succeeded without involving every community that is a stakeholder in this operation. Fragmentation of the process will only push us backwards, and that is something we must avoid,” he cautioned.
The roundtable brought together lawmakers, industry operators, and security stakeholders to deliberate on strategies for enhancing oil production and safeguarding critical national infrastructure.
The Company used the occasion to provide to provide detailed technical insights into Tantita’s field operations, challenges, and the roadmap for sustaining current gains in the sector.
