Itsekiri group slams calls to cancel Tantita contract
Coordinators of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) of Itsekiri extraction in Delta State, have condemned calls by some individuals to revoke the firm’s pipeline surveillance contract.
The coordinators made their position known at a media briefing held on Wednesday in Warri, where they described the agitation as self-serving and potentially destabilising to the prevailing peace in the Niger Delta.
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*Itsekiri group
Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa
Coordinators of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) of Itsekiri extraction in Delta State, have condemned calls by some individuals to revoke the firm’s pipeline surveillance contract.
The coordinators made their position known at a media briefing held on Wednesday in Warri, where they described the agitation as self-serving and potentially destabilising to the prevailing peace in the Niger Delta.
A statement issued at the briefing was jointly signed by coordinators representing various Itsekiri clusters, including Mr Ebisam Fenemigho (Ubagboro), Mr Richard Arubi (Ugborodo), Mr Emmanuel Demeyin (Deghele), and Chief Roland Yomere (Omadino), among others.
Flanked by hundreds of Tantita security personnel, the coordinators said those calling for the contract’s revocation neither represented the interests of the people nor acted in good faith, alleging that their motives were driven by personal gain.
They warned that such agitation could trigger unrest and undermine stability in the region, insisting that the agitators lacked both the mandate and credibility to speak on behalf of the Niger Delta communities.
The coordinators commended President Bola Tinubu for extending Tantita’s contract, describing the decision as a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to safeguarding critical national infrastructure.
They also expressed strong support for Tantita’s Chairman, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, whom they described as a capable and dependable leader.
According to them, Tantita, under Tompolo’s leadership, has recorded notable successes in curbing oil theft, enhancing security across waterways, and restoring confidence in the oil sector.
They further stated that the company operates an inclusive structure that accommodates all ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta, with community-based coordinators and contractors engaged to ensure effective monitoring and accountability.
“The Itsekiri communities are adequately represented within the operational framework, and our involvement reflects fairness and recognition of our role as key stakeholders in oil-producing areas,” the statement read.
The coordinators also alleged that those advocating decentralisation or cancellation of the contract may have previously been involved in illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism.
“Such individuals are seeking avenues to resume criminal activities curtailed by Tantita’s operations. The pipeline surveillance contract is not a regional entitlement but a responsibility entrusted to a competent organisation based on performance and results,” they said.
They urged critics to pursue legitimate means of engagement, while reaffirming their commitment to supporting Tantita in safeguarding the nation’s oil and gas assets.
