Dozens of protesters gathered at the National Assembly on Wednesday as lawmakers stepped up discussions on crude oil theft and pipeline security in Nigeria’s Niger Delta.
Operating under the Coalition of Civil Society for Economic Protection, the demonstrators marched to the complex, chanting and displaying placards with messages like “Oil thieves Are Conspiring Against Tantita” and “Say No to Oil Bunkering.” Security operatives, including the Nigeria Police Force, blocked them from entering the premises.
The protest coincided with renewed legislative focus on oil theft, a long-standing issue affecting Nigeria’s oil output, revenue, and security in host communities.
Meanwhile, a joint session of Senate and House Committees on Petroleum Resources is set to hold a roundtable on pipeline security and efforts to curb crude oil theft. Key figures expected include Godswill Akpabio, Tajudeen Abbas, and Nuhu Ribadu, among others.
Speaking during the protest, the group’s convener, Tesleem Kolawole, urged lawmakers to objectively assess pipeline surveillance efforts.
He said, “We call on the lawmakers to sincerely and holistically look at the journey of Tantita from when they started securing the country to date, without fear or favour. They should examine the modus operandi of the contract and its primary aim to determine whether it has been successful or not.”
He added, “The conversation around pipeline surveillance must be guided by results, because when national assets are secured, the economy benefits, communities stabilise, and young people gain real opportunities.
“In that regard, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited has become a visible part of a broader national effort that has helped restore confidence in pipeline security and crude oil production.”
Kolawole noted that oil production rose to about 1.8 million barrels per day in November 2024 from around 500,000 barrels per day before Tantita’s involvement in 2022.
He concluded, “So our message here today is simple. This is not the time to weaken a framework that has helped restore production, support youth enterprise, improve education, and create alternatives to criminality.
“This is the time to strengthen accountability, improve coordination, and protect what is working. When a programme produces measurable gains in oil security, education, skills, agriculture, and youth engagement, the responsible thing is not disruption; it is consolidation.
“Therefore, we call for continuity, transparency, and support for every initiative that secures national assets while also lifting people. Tantita’s record, as publicly reported, shows that security and development can work together. That is the standard we should protect for Nigeria’s future.”
Crude oil theft remains a major economic challenge in Nigeria, with authorities combining military action and private surveillance contracts to tackle pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering. The outcome of the ongoing parliamentary discussions is expected to influence future policies on protecting the nation’s oil infrastructure.
