A coalition of Niger Delta ex-militant leaders and key regional stakeholders has issued a firm rejection of recent calls for the decentralization of the national petroleum pipeline surveillance contract currently held by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited. In a comprehensive communiqué released following a consultative meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Monday, April 13, 2026, the group described the advocacy for decentralization as a “politically motivated distraction” that could potentially reverse the significant gains recorded in the fight against crude oil theft and environmental degradation. The stakeholders warned that breaking the current operational framework under the leadership of Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, would lead to operational chaos and a resurgence of communal rivalries in the creeks.
The communiqué was signed by several prominent figures, including the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Critical Stakeholders Forum, Reuben Clifford Wilson, and the First Phase Ex-Militant Leader, Ezekiel Akpasibewei. The signatories emphasized that since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu renewed the contract for Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, there has been a steady increase in Nigeria’s daily crude oil production and a notable reduction in illegal bunkering activities. The group argued that the current centralized command structure allows for effective coordination with the Nigerian Navy and the Joint Task Force, ensuring that intelligence is shared rapidly and that enforcement is consistent across the various states of the Niger Delta.
The rejection of decentralization is also supported by traditional institutions and host communities who have benefited from the employment opportunities created by the surveillance firm. The Ovie of Great Idjerhe Kingdom and Chairman of the Host Communities Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, His Majesty King Monday Obukohwo Whiskey, stated that the call to decentralize the contract is being pushed by “disgruntled elements” who were previously involved in or benefited from the era of unchecked oil theft. He maintained that the current system provides a unified accountability mechanism that is easier for the Federal Government to monitor and regulate. The stakeholders urged the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to ignore the “media blackmail” and continue the partnership with proven local security entities.
Security and energy analysts observe that the success of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited has fundamentally disrupted the business model of high-level oil theft syndicates. Experts argue that decentralization would likely lead to a “balkanization” of the waterways, where different groups control various sections of the pipeline, making it impossible to trace the origin of leaks or the movement of illegal barges. They suggest that the “Tompolo model” has worked because it combines local knowledge with a centralized responsibility to the state. Analysts maintain that any attempt to alter the contract structure at this stage would be a high-risk gamble that could jeopardize the nation’s primary source of revenue and the relative peace currently enjoyed in the oil-producing communities.
The broader implications of this rejection point toward a consolidation of the current security strategy in the Niger Delta. By standing firmly behind a centralized surveillance model, the ex-militants and stakeholders are signaling their commitment to a “unified front” against economic sabotage. This development strengthens the Federal Government’s position in maintaining the status quo, which has proven effective in boosting national oil reserves and stabilizing the regional ecosystem. As the debate over the contract structure continues, the focus remains on the need for sustained collaboration between private security firms and national security agencies. For the residents of the Niger Delta, the preservation of the current framework is seen as the most viable path toward both environmental restoration and economic stability.
