IJAW YOUTHS RAISE ALARM OVER CAMPAIGN OF BLACKMAIL AGAINST TANTITA, URGE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO ACT WITH PROFESSIONALISM
IJAW YOUTHS RAISE ALARM OVER CAMPAIGN OF BLACKMAIL AGAINST TANTITA, URGE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO ACT WITH PROFESSIONALISM
By Dr. Odimientimi Agbedeyi | Global Egberi Media International
The leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Western Zone, has issued a stern caution to what it described as “unpatriotic and mischievous elements” allegedly orchestrating a sustained campaign of misinformation against Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, the private pipeline surveillance firm credited with significantly curbing crude oil theft in the Niger Delta.
In a strongly worded statement released to the press, the influential youth body expressed deep concern over what it termed a deliberate attempt by certain individuals to discredit the operations and achievements of the security company, despite what it described as “overwhelming evidence of progress in the fight against oil theft.”
According to the IYC Western Zone, the persistent wave of allegations and insinuations circulating in some quarters is not only misleading but also detrimental to the fragile progress being recorded in safeguarding Nigeria’s critical oil infrastructure.
A Shift in the Niger Delta Narrative
The council noted that before the engagement of Tantita Security Services by the Federal Government, several pipeline surveillance contracts had been awarded to various individuals and organizations across the Niger Delta. However, many of those contractors, the group observed, failed to effectively tackle the entrenched problem of crude oil theft and illegal bunkering that had crippled Nigeria’s oil production for years.
The situation, the IYC said, dramatically changed with the appointment of Tantita Security Services under the leadership of High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
According to the council, the firm has demonstrated remarkable commitment and operational efficiency in protecting oil facilities across the region, leading to a significant reduction in illegal bunkering activities and renewed stability within the oil-producing communities.
“Since the engagement of Tantita Security Services, the narrative surrounding crude oil theft in the Niger Delta has changed significantly,” the statement emphasized.
The group further highlighted that the once alarming rate of pipeline vandalism and illegal refining activities has been drastically curtailed, enabling Nigeria to gradually restore both its economic confidence and the ecological balance of the Niger Delta environment.
Oil Production Figures Tell the Story
The IYC Western Zone backed its position with empirical data, stressing that Nigeria’s crude oil production figures have witnessed remarkable improvement since the commencement of Tantita’s operations.
The council revealed that as of August 2022, prior to the award of the surveillance contract to the firm, Nigeria’s crude oil output stood at approximately 972,394 barrels per day.
Today, the country’s daily production has risen to about 1.68 million barrels per day, bringing Nigeria closer to meeting the supply benchmarks set by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
According to the youth body, these statistics underscore the effectiveness of Tantita’s intervention and should form part of any objective evaluation by relevant authorities.
“In the face of these verifiable improvements, it is both disappointing and suspicious that certain individuals would continue to spread falsehoods about a company that has evidently delivered results,” the statement added.
Advice to the National Assembly
The Ijaw Youth Council also used the opportunity to advise the Joint National Assembly Committees on Petroleum Resources currently probing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and pipeline surveillance contracts to conduct their oversight responsibilities with utmost professionalism and strict adherence to constitutional procedures.
The committees are chaired by prominent lawmakers including:
Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe – Senate Committee on Gas
Hon. Nicholas Mutu – House Committee on Gas
Senator Eteng Jonah Williams – Senate Committee on Upstream
Hon. Ado Doguwa – House Committee on Upstream
Senator Suleiman A. Kawu – Senate Committee on Downstream
Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere – House Committee on Downstream
Hon. Prince Henry Okojie – House Committee on Midstream
The council urged the lawmakers to rely strictly on verifiable facts, historical records, and objective analysis rather than politically motivated narratives.
“The National Assembly must be guided by empirical evidence and national interest rather than propaganda sponsored by vested interests,” the statement stressed.
Call for Unity Among Ijaw People
In a rallying call to the Ijaw nation, the youth body urged sons and daughters of the Niger Delta to remain steadfast in supporting initiatives that promote peace, development, and economic stability within the region.
The council emphasized that the progress recorded in curbing oil theft represents not just a victory for the Federal Government but also a crucial step toward restoring the dignity and environmental integrity of the Niger Delta.
It therefore called on stakeholders across the region to resist divisive propaganda and instead rally behind initiatives capable of securing the region’s resources for the benefit of both present and future generations.
The statement was jointly signed by:
A Defining Moment
Observers believe the statement by the IYC Western Zone reflects the growing debate within the Niger Delta over the management of pipeline surveillance contracts and the broader struggle to protect Nigeria’s oil resources from criminal exploitation.
For many stakeholders in the region, the success or failure of such initiatives carries far-reaching implications not only for Nigeria’s economic survival but also for the long-term environmental recovery of the Niger Delta.
As the controversy continues to unfold, one thing remains certain: the question of oil security in the Niger Delta remains central to Nigeria’s economic destiny.
Source: Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Western Zone Statement.
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