Traditional rulers and community leaders across the Niger Delta have issued a collective call for sustained peace and continued support for Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL) in its mission to safeguard the nation’s oil and gas infrastructure. Following a formal “Vote of Confidence” passed by the National Assembly on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, stakeholders in the region met in Warri on Friday, April 10, to reinforce their commitment to the pipeline surveillance contract. The leaders, led by the Ovie of Great Idjerhe Kingdom and Chairman of the Host Communities Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (HOSCON), His Majesty King Monday Obukohwo Whiskey, argued that the company’s presence has significantly reduced “Illegal Bunkering” and restored economic stability to oil-bearing communities.
King Monday Obukohwo Whiskey described the recent “Campaign of Calumny” against Tantita Security Services as a desperate attempt by “Economic Saboteurs” to undermine a successful Nigerian indigenous effort. He noted that before the involvement of the company, led by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (popularly known as Tompolo), oil production had plummeted to record lows due to systemic theft and vandalism. The monarch emphasized that the contract has provided “Direct Employment” to over 60 indigenes in his kingdom alone and has empowered thousands more across the region, effectively reducing crime and social vices. He urged the Federal Government to not only sustain the contract but to “Renew and Expand” its scope to cover areas where illegal activities still persist.
The President-General of the Ughelli Descendants Union, Sam Akpemegi, and other community representatives echoed the monarch’s call, stating that the “Environmental Restoration” of the Niger Delta is a direct byproduct of the reduced pipeline vandalism. They noted that the frequent oil spills that once devastated local fisheries and farmlands have drastically decreased since Tantita began its surveillance operations. Stakeholders urged “Vested Interests” to stop using the media to blackmail the company, arguing that the results on the ground speak for themselves. They maintained that the current administration’s ability to maintain “Relative Economic Stability” is largely due to the unimpeded oil operations guaranteed by the peace in the region.
Environmental and security analysts suggest that the “Private-Public Partnership” in pipeline security is a necessary response to the “Complex Terrain” of the Niger Delta creeks, which are often difficult for conventional security forces to monitor effectively. Experts argue that the “Local Content” approach employed by Tantita—hiring indigenes who know the terrain—is the most effective way to secure sensitive assets. Analysts suggest that the Federal Government should move toward a more “Permanent Regulatory Framework” for private security engagement in the oil sector to ensure long-term accountability. They argue that the “Social License to Operate” granted by the traditional rulers is a critical asset that must be preserved to prevent a return to the era of militancy.
The broader implications of this call for peace point toward a “New Social Contract” in the Niger Delta, where host communities are seen as partners in national development rather than as obstacles. The support for Tantita Security Services signals a growing consensus that the protection of the “National Economic Lifeline” is a collective responsibility. As the National Assembly and traditional rulers align their support, the focus remains on the “Sustainability of Oil Production” and the equitable distribution of the benefits to the grassroots. For the Nigerian state, the success of the surveillance model represents a “Template for Regional Security” that balances military force with community-led intelligence. As the contract comes up for review, the focus remains on deepening the impact of the surveillance efforts to ensure a total end to oil theft in the region.
