Traditional rulers from Delta State have issued a strong endorsement of pipeline surveillance contractor Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to renew and expand the company’s mandate to sustain security gains and boost oil production in the Niger Delta.
The position was contained in an open letter addressed to the President at the conclusion of an enlarged meeting of monarchs from Ijaw, Urhobo, Isoko, and Ndokwa ethnic nationalities. The meeting was held on March 30, 2026, at the royal palace of HRM Dr. Emmanuel E. Sideso, Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom.
In the communiqué, the monarchs congratulated President Tinubu on his 74th birthday, offering prayers for continued leadership and national progress.
They also expressed “deep appreciation and profound gratitude” to the President for awarding the pipeline surveillance contract to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd, noting that the decision has yielded measurable improvements in security and economic stability across the Niger Delta.
According to the traditional rulers, the company’s operations have significantly reduced criminal activities in the region, including illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism (commonly referred to as “kpofire”), kidnapping, sea piracy, armed robbery, and youth restiveness.
They further stated that the improved security environment has contributed to environmental recovery, with both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems benefiting from the decline in oil spills and pipeline destruction.
The monarchs highlighted that Nigeria’s oil production has risen to approximately 1.8 million barrels per day since Tantita’s engagement, with gas output also increasing.
This, they noted, has strengthened investor confidence and attracted higher levels of foreign direct investment into the country.
Addressing recent calls for the decentralization of the surveillance contract, the monarchs dismissed such demands, stating that their findings confirm the contract is already decentralized, with multiple contractors handling different segments across ethnic nationalities in Delta State.
They warned that further fragmentation could undermine the current gains recorded in the sector.
Consequently, the royal fathers appealed to President Tinubu to not only renew Tantita’s contract but also expand its scope to consolidate security improvements, enhance oil and gas production, and ensure lasting peace and stability in the Niger Delta region.
The statement underscores growing traditional institutional support for the current surveillance framework amid ongoing debates about resource control and security management in Nigeria’s oil-producing areas.
