…Urges Federal Government T Ignore Mischievous Elements
By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye
ISOKO Patriots, President Generals, Stakeholders and Coordinators of oil pipeline surveillance, have passed a vote of confidence in Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited TSSNL and it’s management team for securing oil pipelines in the Niger Delta region.
They also condemn in strong terms calls for the cancellation of the Tantita’s contract.
The Isoko people stand followed the recent call and protest by some group of persons who had urged the federal government to terminate the oil surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.
The Tantita Security is owned and chaired by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, with Chief Kestin Pondi as the Managing Director.
Chief Adonis Ubuwere, Chairman of Isoko PGs and President General of Irri Kingdom who read the statement at Opute Hall, Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area, Delta State, warned against any actions that could cause distortions in the operations of Tantita Security Nigeria Limited.
They attest that since the inception of Tantita Security Nigeria Limited, laudable achievements have been recorded as illegal bunkering and oil theft in Isoko nation has become history.
The statement read, “The Isoko Patriots, a coalition of young professionals from the Isoko ethnic nationality, is committed to fostering peace, socio-political advancement, and economic prosperity within the Isoko nation.
“We feel compelled to alert the Nigerian public and security agencies to a calculated campaign, allegedly sponsored by crude oil theft syndicates operating within Isoko and neighbouring ethnic communities, to undermine Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited and sabotage the ongoing oil facilities surveillance operations in Delta State.
“We have credible intelligence indicating that these orchestrated protests are part of a broader strategy aimed at dismantling the oil surveillance architecture, thereby creating a vacuum for renewed illegal oil bunkering activities and returning the region to the gory days of unmitigated crude oil theft.
“It is imperative to emphasize that prior to the award of the surveillance contract to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited -a wholly indigenous company-several non-indigenous and non-Deltan contractors, including Eraskorp Nigeria Limited and more recently Ocean Marine Services Limited, had previously executed similar contracts without any recorded ethnic-based opposition or protest, even during periods of rampant crude oil theft which at one point reduced the country’s daily production to a
mere 700,000 bpd.
“The silence of these ethnic agitators during that critical time is telling. While Nigeria’s economy bled profusely from oil theft, while our communities were militarized and turned into conflict zones, and while our ecosystem suffered irreversible damage, these so-called defenders of ethnic agitators remained silent, even when the surveillance contracts
were managed by non-Deltans.
“Tantita emerged as a timely and necessary response to a national emergency-an enterprise borne out of necessity to disrupt and dismantle an entrenched criminal cartel. The surveillance contract awarded to
Tantita complies fully with the Petroleum Industry Act and other applicable legal frameworks.
“It represents a strategic shift toward indigenisation and accountability. Moreover, in line with its commitment to local content and inclusion, Tantita has subcontracted operations within OML 26 and OML 60 to competent companies owned by Isoko indigenes. These engagements are in addition to several other community-level collaborations and stakeholder consultations undertaken to ensure broad-based participation.
“We therefore find it grossly misleading for individuals who are either nonresidents or are unfamiliar with the prevailing realities on the ground in Isoko to make provocative calls for the split or cancellation of Tantita’s contract. Tantita is currently one of the largest employers of labour in the Isoko area and has contributed significantly to regional stability.
Pipeline surveillance is just one of many contracts awarded by NNPCL.
“It is worth noting that numerous Isoko sons and daughters are executing contracts in regions outside Isoko land, including Ijaw territories. Only recently, three Isoko-owned firms secured oil mining leases in fields outside the Isoko region. Should they then be excluded on account of ethnicity?
“We strongly condemn these attempts by faceless groups to derail the vital work of Tantita Security Services and, by extension, the Federal Government renewed efforts to secure the nation oll and gas assets.
“These so-called agitators are nothing more than proxies for criminal elements determined to revive the illegal oil bunkering economy.
“The gains recorded since the engagement of Tantita in 2022 are undisputed. Industry stakeholders, security agencies, and even those involved in illegal oil bunkering are aware of the gains. The current agitations are not borne of patriotic interest but represent a desperate fightback by displaced criminal networks. Indeed, it is a clear case of corruption fighting back.
“We urge the Federal Government, NPCL, and all stakeholders to ignore these distractions and instead focus intelligence efforts on exposing and prosecuting these economic saboteurs hiding under the guise of ethnic
advocacy.
“We further call for the expansion of Tantita Security Services’ operational mandate and the enactment of legislation establishing special courts to prosecute oil thieves and their financiers. A winning team deserves
applause, not replacement.
“
“The motion for the vote of confidence was moved by the president general of Otor-Owhe community, Engr Atunu Alfred, it was seconded by Comrade Morisster Idibra and it was unanimously adopted by the entire Isoko nation, coordinator and workers of Tantita.” It added.