Delta monarchs back Tantita, urge Tinubu to renew deal
The Delta State Traditional Rulers Council has passed a resounding vote of confidence in Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), calling for the renewal and expansion of its contract.
The royal fathers, drawn from the Urhobo, Ijaw, Isoko and Ndokwa ethnic groups, endorsed the firm on Monday during an enlarged council meeting held at the palace of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Emmanuel Sideso, Abe I.
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*Delta monarchs
Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa
The Delta State Traditional Rulers Council has passed a resounding vote of confidence in Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), calling for the renewal and expansion of its contract.
The royal fathers, drawn from the Urhobo, Ijaw, Isoko and Ndokwa ethnic groups, endorsed the firm on Monday during an enlarged council meeting held at the palace of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Emmanuel Sideso, Abe I.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the council appealed to President Bola Tinubu to renew and broaden Tantita’s mandate, citing its significant contributions to security and economic stability in the Niger Delta.
Emmanuel Sideso, the Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, King Monday Whiskey, and King Joseph Timiyan, the Ebenanaowei of Ogulagha Kingdom, among others, jointly signed the communiqué.
The traditional rulers noted that renewing and expanding the contract would boost oil and gas output while promoting peace and stability in the region and beyond.
They also rejected calls by some groups to decentralise Tantita’s contract, insisting that the Federal Government’s centralised framework had proved effective and should be maintained.
“We express deep appreciation and profound gratitude to President Tinubu for finding TSSNL worthy of handling pipeline surveillance and other critical national assets in the Niger Delta,” the communiqué stated.
“Having extensively reviewed the company’s performance, we pass a vote of implicit confidence in TSSNL for its unwavering commitment to protecting oil and gas installations.”
The council credited Tantita’s operations with a significant reduction in illegal bunkering, kidnapping, sea piracy, armed robbery and youth unrest. It added that the company’s activities had strengthened the national economy and improved both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems across the region.
According to the monarchs, Nigeria’s oil production has risen to about 1.8 million barrels per day, while increased gas output has attracted higher foreign direct investment.
The council also felicitated President Tinubu on his 74th birthday, wishing him many more years in good health and service.
Earlier, Tantita’s Managing Director, High Chief Kestin Pondi, sought continued support from the traditional rulers, describing their cooperation as vital to national security. Represented by the company’s General Manager, Legal Services, Emmanuel Jakpa, Pondi expressed gratitude for the monarchs’ longstanding backing.
He noted that since Tantita began operations in August 2022, oil theft had declined sharply, with crude oil recovery rates now between 97 and 99 per cent, compared with about 700,000 barrels per day previously.
Pondi added that environmental conditions had improved significantly, with cleaner communities and revived aquatic life.
However, he warned that these gains could be reversed without sustained support.
In response, the traditional rulers pledged continued cooperation but called for improved communication between Tantita and host communities.
Dignitaries at the meeting included King Felix Mujakperuo, the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom; King Monday Whiskey; and King Joseph Timiyan, among others.
