The National Assembly Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources has expressed a vote of confidence in Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited for their efforts to secure oil pipelines and reduce crude oil theft.
The lawmakers also rejected three petitions challenging the pipeline surveillance contract, noting that the petitioners failed to appear before the committee to substantiate their claims.
The decisions followed a one-day parliamentary roundtable on pipeline security and crude oil theft held at the National Assembly on Wednesday.
Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Midstream), Mr. Henry Okojie, stated that the surveillance arrangement has strengthened the protection of oil infrastructure and improved production. Data show that Nigeria’s crude oil output has risen to around 1.8 million barrels per day as of April 2026, up from roughly 900,000 barrels per day in 2022 before the contract’s implementation.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, highlighted the significance of securing Nigeria’s oil assets amid global developments. He noted that crude oil remains the main source of primary energy worldwide, powering 95 per cent of vehicles, planes, and ships, and stressed the need for proactive measures in light of ongoing international conflicts and energy supply challenges.
Tracing pipeline security issues to long-standing grievances in the Niger Delta, the Speaker said, “The discovery of petroleum has both earned us massive foreign exchange and resulted in environmental degradation and despair. The Niger Delta has experienced significant agitations over the years, often leading to pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, and illegal refining.”
He added that the Federal Government’s pipeline surveillance framework, involving private operators and host communities, has led to notable improvements in daily production.
“Reports indicate that most illegal tapping points have been dismantled, production has increased substantially, and oil receipts are nearing full delivery to export terminals,” the Speaker said. “Thanks to these surveillance and security efforts, production has risen to about 1.8 million barrels per day. The contract has also created employment for thousands of Niger Delta youths, providing alternatives to crime and placing security in the hands of local communities.”
He acknowledged ongoing challenges in accountability and transparency, noting that crude oil theft persists in some areas. The National Assembly has strengthened legal frameworks, including provisions under the Petroleum Industry Act, to combat sabotage and improve oversight.
Tantita Security Services was engaged by the Federal Government in 2022 to address the sharp decline in Nigeria’s oil production and revenue, operating a community-based model that involves youths from host communities.