Under the auspices of the Niger Delta Congress, or NDC, Niger Delta stakeholders have demanded an immediate, comprehensive, and impartial forensic examination of the pipeline protection contract that the Federal Government started.
Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, owned by former military chief Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, is handling the contract, which is intended to prevent oil theft. A number of organizations and individuals in the Niger Delta have been calling for a contract restructure in recent days, criticizing the fact that only one organization is managing the project.
The Niger Delta Congress, or NDC, claimed in a statement signed by Comrade Godfrey Onade that the contract, which is allegedly worth $144 million a year, has not successfully reduced oil theft or produced the anticipated long-term increases in crude production.
The stakeholders claim that Tantita’s agents are having trouble getting to isolated swampy places in the Niger Delta, which has revealed large creek networks and allowed illicit bunkering and refining to proceed unhindered.
They observed that the contract’s monopolistic character has reduced its efficacy.
“The monopolistic paradigm is inefficient and essentially faulty. According to the statement, “even its supporters have acknowledged that the company cannot cover some remote and marshy territories, resulting in persistent vulnerabilities across our intricate creek systems.”
The stakeholders cited the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPCL) weekly findings of illicit pipeline connections and refineries as unmistakable proof that surveillance is still insufficient and sporadic.
“Despite the massive expenditure, Nigeria’s crude output continues to fall below critical benchmarks, averaging around 1.46 million barrels per day in recent months, dipping as low as 1.31 million bpd in February 2026 according to OPEC figures—well short of the 1.5 million bpd quota and the federal budget target of 1.84 million bpd,” the statement highlighted.
Contrary to reports of sharp declines, the Niger Delta Congress maintained that ongoing theft continues to deplete national revenue.
According to the stakeholders, if the audit reveals shortcomings in the project’s execution, the contract should be terminated.
They demanded a change to a transparent, decentralized approach with full cooperation with national security forces and several local operators.
We demand a comprehensive audit of Tantita’s operations to determine the actual scope of its financial transactions and performance.
“The Niger Delta Congress will have no choice but to go to court to compel the appropriate authorities to act in the national interest if the right thing is not done promptly,” the statement continued.
