Harboursandport.com: Abuja, Nigeria – April 11, 2026: The National Assembly has declared Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited a company of National Strategic Interest, passing an absolute vote of confidence in its pipeline surveillance contract.
This is even as the lawmakers commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC for it's foresight in awarding Tantita the pipeline surveillance contract.
Lawmakers said the firm’s operations have reversed years of crude oil losses and significantly boosted Nigeria’s oil earnings.
The resolution came after a one-day parliamentary roundtable on pipeline security and crude oil theft, where lawmakers also dismissed three petitions challenging the contract. The petitions were struck out after the petitioners failed to appear before the committee to defend their claims.
Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Midstream), Henry Okojie, said the surveillance arrangement had greatly improved the protection of oil infrastructure. He noted that Nigeria’s crude oil output has risen to about 1.8 million barrels per day as of April 2026, compared to 900,000 barrels per day in 2022 before the contract was introduced.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, emphasized the importance of securing Nigeria’s oil assets amid global energy tensions. He pointed out that crude oil remains the largest source of primary energy worldwide, powering 95 percent of vehicles, planes, and ships.
Tajudeen also highlighted the impact of global crises, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which have triggered price surges and supply shortages. He said the National Assembly is ready to lead efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s oil sector.
Providing historical context, Tajudeen traced Nigeria’s pipeline security challenges to longstanding grievances in the Niger Delta. He explained that environmental degradation and despair had fueled agitations, vandalism, and crude theft, costing the nation billions of dollars annually.
Mid-contract evaluation reports presented by Warredi Enisouh, Tantita’s Executive Director of Technical/Operations, showed that crude oil production, which had fallen to about 1.33 million barrels per day in 2022, has steadily climbed since Tantita took over surveillance. By 2025, production averaged 1.64 million barrels per day, with cumulative savings estimated at $11.52 billion.
Warredi attributed the turnaround to Tantita’s “carrot-and-stick” strategy, which combined community engagement with strict enforcement. He added that thousands of Niger Delta youths were employed under the program, providing legitimate alternatives to crime and pipeline vandalism.
A major innovation in the surveillance program has been the deployment of drone technology. Tantita partnered with global manufacturers, including Textron (USA) and Yangda (China), to acquire specialized drones with infrared detection capabilities. These drones now provide real-time monitoring of pipelines and refineries, enabling detection of illegal activities even at night.
Lawmakers hailed the surveillance contract as a model of accountability and innovation. They noted that it has dismantled illegal tapping points, improved transparency in oil receipts, and restored confidence in Nigeria’s ability to remain a reliable oil producer. Tantita’s operations, alongside NNPC and security agencies, have been credited with stabilizing revenues and positioning Nigeria to meet President Tinubu’s 2026 budget target of 2 million barrels per day.
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