Following Wednesday’s vote of confidence passed on Tantita Security Services Limited by the National Assembly, traditional rulers and community leaders in the Niger Delta have called for sustained support for the company in safeguarding oil and gas pipelines.
They noted that the company’s involvement in pipeline protection has brought noticeable improvements to oil-bearing communities.
Speaking on the development, the President-General of the Isoko Development Union (IDU), Christopher Akpotu, commended the joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives for dismissing multiple petitions against Tantita, describing the decision as a step in the right direction for the Niger Delta.
Reacting to the committee’s findings on pipeline security, Akpotu urged stakeholders to prioritise collective economic benefits over internal disputes.
“That is the right way to go,” he said. “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.”
Similarly, the President-General of the Ughelli Descendants Union, Sam Akpemegi, praised the company’s performance since the commencement of its operations, noting that it has significantly improved security in the area.
In the same vein, the Odiologbo of Ofagbe Kingdom, Engr. Ogaga Ikpoku, endorsed the National Assembly’s decision, describing it as timely and beneficial to peace and stability in oil-producing communities.
He urged that the current momentum be sustained to consolidate gains in securing critical oil infrastructure and promoting development.
Corroborating these views, a surveillance worker from an Isoko community in Delta State, Felix Onoriode, said the extension of Tantita’s operations to their area in 2024 has had a significant positive impact.
Explaining the National Assembly’s position, the Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Ikenga Ugochinyere, said all petitions and complaints against the firm were subjected to rigorous scrutiny but lacked merit.
