Recently, stakeholders gathered in Warri, Delta State to reflect on how Tantita Security Services Limited came, saw and has continued to conquer the menace of oil theft in the Niger Delta. Mike Odiegwu, who was at the event, which doubled as an end of the year party and awards night, reports.
Nigeria‘s oil production has gone up. It has hit a remarkable figure of two million barrels per day. Insider sources from the Tantita Security Services Limited said if all the repairs on leaking pipelines are carried out, the current production will reach an unimaginable 2.5 million barrels per day.
It was never imagined about five years ago that the country’s oil production could hit such a figure. Prior to 2022, Nigerian oil production was in a big mess. It was infested by the virus of oil theft. Criminal elements devised various means to steal crude oil from pipelines, oil wells and other conveyor belts of crude oil.
To get the crude, they burst pipelines, tapped lines and oil wells. Various illegal oil businesses boomed. Economic saboteurs were having a field day enriching themselves overnight and allowing the odour of raw crude oil saturate the atmosphere. Illegal refining of crude by notoriously skilled local engineers was dominant. Illegal refineries proliferated, as many community folks turned cooking of crude oil to personal, family and community business.
They cooked diesel, kerosene and fuel. It never mattered that most times their cooking factories exploded and roasted thousands of them alive. Such incidents permanently destroyed the environment and rendered many water bodies useless. Many died but others living were not deterred. They continued growing the criminal empire of economic sabotage.
The atmosphere was dotted with billowing smokes wafting from such cooking centres, which were mostly located inside thick forests. Different respiratory diseases engulfed creeks and urban centres, as soots descended from the sky and settled in homes and nostrils staining shirts and floors. The activities of oil thieves made living in the Niger Delta life threatening.
Prior to 2022, the economy, which depends heavily on oil, continued to haemorrhage. Nigeria lost significant revenue and resorted to borrowing massively for survival.
But all that has changed, thanks to the Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) founded by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly called Tompolo.
Recently, stakeholders gathered in Warri, Delta State to reflect on how Tantita came, saw and continued to conquer the menace of oil theft in the Niger Delta. It was an end of year party and award night organised by the management of Tantita.
The Managing Director, TSSNL, Chief Kestin Pondi, described the period before 2022 as a dark time for the oil industry. He recalled that oil production vices were high, measuring about 36.69million barrels, with daily production output hovering within 800,000 to 900,000 barrels per day.
After the engagement of Tantita, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) reported that crude oil production vices reduced to 7.68 million barrels, 79 per cent decrease.
Reducing such crime rate within two years of operation in a complex and life threatening environment is not a tea party. Pondi said sacrifices were made. High level operational strategies were formulated and diligently prosecuted. Lives of Tantita workers, security personnel and informants were lost. Consistent patrols, negotiations and stakeholders’ engagements were carried out.
To buttress the level of operations deployed to ward off oil thieves and stabilise the economy, Pondi said from 2022 to November 2024, Tantita warriors in their unparallel commitment and resilience to fight oil theft discovered 3,963 incidents of crude oil theft. Out of the number 702 were illegal connections, 971 were cases of theft, 1,784 were illegal refinery cases and 204 cases of diversion.
The efforts to clean the augen stable led to massive results. Reeling out the facts, Pondi said the Tantita team apprehended eight vessels, three tugboats, six barges, 117 vehicles, 52 tankers, 47 fiber speedboats, tricycles and motorcycles as well as 1,743 wooden boats used by economic saboteurs to steal crude and other petroleum products.
The Managing Director said: “While it could be exhaustive to highlight every detail of our activities to curtail oil theft, a whole lot of other discoveries had been made by our team that has subsumed the scourge of oil theft.
“Our success is rooted in the collaboration and the support we have received from the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration whose commitment and partnership has strengthened our resolve and defined our impact.
“The battle is not just about protecting the nation’s oil and gas; it is a mission to secure the future of Nigeria. At Tantita, we have embraced the responsibility with unwavering resolve and I am proud to say we are making significant progress.”
Pondi did not forget all the partners and collaborators that had contributed to the success story of Tantita. Security agencies such as the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the police and the Department of State Security (DSS) are working closely with Tantita to drive oil thieves and saboteurs out of the creeks.
There are also informants, who help in exposing the nefarious activities of oil thieves. Some of the informants and security personnel paid the ultimate prize. Therefore, Pondi called for a minute of silence for such individuals who were so patriotic that they surrendered their lives for the progress of the country’s economy.
Pondi did not fail to recognize Mele Kyari and his board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, who despite all pressures, took the bold step to set up the security architecture. He further poured encomium on the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government for all its support and determination to end all forms of economic sabotage.
He said: “While we count our success story, we will not forget those, who paid the ultimate prize; the ones whose blood our success rests on especially the personnel of the Nigerian Army, the civil defence corps, key informants and employees of Tantita. They died in the course of ensuring that our nation has a booming economy. We mourn and celebrate their sacrifices”.
Pondi harped on the resilience of the Tantita team. He described members of the team as a collection of individuals, whose collective contributions define the successes in the field, operational room and support services.
“Every member of the Tantita Security plays an indispensable role in achieving our mission. Your courage, diligence and determination inspire us all. Tonight we celebrate you,” he said.
Pondi was right. The strength of Tantita has depended hugely on its collaboration with security agencies such as the Nigerian Navy, the Army, the Air Force, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Department of State Security (DSS). They provide the required security cover for Tantita foot soldiers to battle the menace.
Some stakeholders applauded the roles of the NSCDC in Tantita’s operations. They observed that the Commandant-General of NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, through his Deputy Commandant-General, Philip Ayuba, has been at the forefront of the required success for Tantita. In fact, Dr. Audi was highly represented at the event by Philip Ayuba.
These agencies share same operational strategies, vision and objectives with Tantita, resisting all forms of compromise and inducements by moneybag oil thieves. Like a family united by purpose, they work harmoniously with Tantita to get rid of the demons in the oil sector. Most of them along with Tantita fighters have also paid the supreme prize.
While Pondi spoke, many stakeholders in the hall discussed the leadership, managerial capacity and personal qualities he (Pondi) had deployed to make Tantita succeed in its mission to eradicate all forms of economic sabotage.
They observed that under Pondi, Tantita has gone beyond a mere security outfit to become the emerging way of life in the Niger Delta. Pondi fosters communal living, allowing resources of Tantita to trickle down to all the nooks and crannies of the Niger Delta. His generosity ensures inclusivity of all stakeholders, who now share in the vision of Tantita.
Pondi’s managerial style has given most people in the Niger Delta a sense of belonging. Tantita touches lives; solves common daily problems; gives to the needy, the elderly, students, women, youths and engage idle minds in meaningful ventures.
Therefore, most persons hitherto involved in oil theft were said to have willingly and voluntarily surrendered and embraced Tantita’s vision. Just recently, Pondi intervened and gave N30million to a young lawyer in the region, Etifa Jonathan, who was seeking such money for kidney transplant required to save his life.
They also observed that Pondi’s leadership and generous qualities have kept the workforce of Tantita permanently happy. An elderly man in the hall said the managing director builds houses for the workers; buys them vehicles including their wives and ensures their wives were established in businesses. He has established high level of staff welfare and motivation. The employees reciprocate by diligently executing their tasks and avoiding every form of sabotage and betrayal.
In fact, the event was designed to motivate the staff of Tantita and its partners. Outstanding employees were recognised and sub-contractors were given excellence awards. The employees collectively gave Kestin Pondi an award as an outstanding managing director.
No wonder, Pondi said to them: “As we honour excellence through this award, let it serve as a reminder of what we can achieve when we work together with unity of purpose. It is a testament to the power of team work and shared vision.
“While we celebrate tonight, let’s also look forward with renewed determination. The journey ahead requires better efforts and together with the support of the government, there is no challenge we can’t overcome”.
Therefore, beyond the deployment of kinetic force, Tantita through Kestin Pondi, has deployed its resources and initiated humanitarian measures to reach all stakeholders and give them a sense of belonging.
In fact, apart from growing the economy, the efforts of Tantita in collaboration with other security agencies have gradually restored the environment of the Niger Delta. The environment is gradually recovering from years of damage caused by illegal refinery operations, pipeline vandalism and illegal oil bunkering.
The water bodies, which hitherto suffered massive pollution and were in disuse, are wearing a new look, following the reduction in the activities of oil thieves in the region. With the restoration of water bodies and the entire environment, people in the region are returning to their traditional occupations of farming and fishing.
A former President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Udengs Eradiri, who graced the occasion, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for believing in Tompolo’s Tantita, noting that with its performance, the security outfit has made the President proud. He said having delivered on its mandate, Tantita should be considered for additional responsibilities.
Eradiri said: “The success of Tantita is not something surprising to people like us. I will use this opportunity to firstly thank the President for giving Tantita the opportunity to express itself.
“The benefits Tantita have given to the country is because the Federal Government listened to the cries of the people and decided to engage the Niger Delta people. Tantita has proven that they can do this job. This is a job that many people cannot do and a lot of forces because of interest cannot do.
“Tantita has been able to, without fear or favour, create an economy and security in the Niger Delta and ultimately given money to the Nigerian state. Tantita has brought together young people of the Niger Delta from different facets of the region – Ondo, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and other parts of the Niger Delta.
“Tantita has rallied round people in the academia, creeks, community and youths. That is why you see the successes the country had recorded. This company deserves a lot of support from the Federal Government. We call on the government to give Tantita more responsibilities.
Echoing similar sentiments, the Guest Lecturer, Prof. Christopher Nyong, recalled how High Chief Tompolo became the lone voice in the wilderness and how evil oil cabal tried to exterminate him. The lecturer said Tompolo later became the Messiah that came to rescue the oil sector.
Nyong, who is the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, remembered that the economy was at the verge of implosion before Tompolo’s Tantita came to the rescue.
“The economy was almost imploding and there was no sign of help from anybody. In the appointed time the lone voice came to rescue Nigeria from the oil cabal,” he said.
He lamented that despite the vast riches, oil theft and mismanagement emasculated the country’s economy. He said $2.1bn worth of oil was stolen in 2019 and $22.4bn in 2022 before Tantita came into the picture.
What has Tantita done differently? He queried. The professor said the success of Tantita depended largely on its operational modalities, leveraging on community efforts. Besides, he said Tantita has become a tool to fight unemployment in the region, adding that the security outfits currently employs 18,000 youths. He said Tantita also created jobs through its engagement of many sub-contractors.
The end of year party and award night became an opportunity for workers and stakeholders to unwind and dine. Many comedians within and outside the state entertained the guests. Top musicians like Kecee Limpopo thrilled the audience. The presence of a popular Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke and a well-known billionaire socialite and philanthropist, E-Money among others spiced the occasion.
A tall cake of success and victory was cut by dignitaries to mark the occasion. At the end, it became obvious that the country’s economy rests on the shoulders of Tompolo’s Tantita; and to take the peace in the Niger Delta and the progress in the economy to the next level, the Federal Government and all stakeholders must ignore all forms of blackmail, bile and negative jealousy against Tantita and keep supporting the security outfit to record more breakthroughs.
