Ethnic agitations against Tantita’s contract, ‘calculated distraction’ – Isoko Nation

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

A collation of the Isoko Patriot and President-Generals (PGs) of Isoko oil-bearing communities has condemned the provocative calls for the split or termination of the contract awarded to the Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL).

The coalition gave the condemnation on Wednesday at a press conference held in Ozoro Community, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State.

They, therefore, urged the federal government and other relevant stakeholders to disregard the calls and rather focus on intelligence efforts aimed at exposing and prosecuting the perceived economic saboteurs hiding under the guise of ethnic advocacy.

Chief Idonis Uwubare, President-General of Irri Kingdom, who read the statement on behalf of the people, described the agitation against Tantita as “a calculated distraction orchestrated by criminal cartels.”

According to them, the current agitations against the private pipeline surveillance outfit were not borne out of patriotic interest but represent a desperate fightback by displaced criminal networks.

“Indeed, it is a clear case of corruption fighting back,” they said.

The people noted that before the engagement of Tantita in 2022, the daily crude oil production was within the neighbourhood of mere 700,000 bpd.

They said that the story had changed for the better since the engagement of Tantita.

The coalition added that industry stakeholders, security agencies, and even those involved in illegal oil bunkering were aware of the improvement in the daily crude production.

They said that Tantita emerged as a timely and necessary response to a national emergency, describing it as an enterprise borne out of necessity to disrupt and dismantle an entrenched criminal cartel.

“We feel compelled to alert the Nigerian public and security agencies to a calculated campaign, allegedly sponsored by crude oil theft syndicates operating within Isoko and neighbouring ethnic communities.

“The aim is to undermine the operation of the Tantita and sabotage the ongoing oil facilities surveillance operations in Delta State, and by implication, create a vacuum for renewed illegal oil bunkering activities.

“The surveillance contract awarded to Tantita complies fully with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and other applicable legal frameworks. It represents a strategic shift toward indigenisation and accountability,” he said.

The people said that Tantita had subcontracted its operations within OML 26 and OML 60 to competent companies owned by Isoko indigenes in line with its commitment to local content and inclusion.

They added that the engagements were in addition to several other community-level collaborations and stakeholder consultations undertaken to ensure broad-based participation.

“Tantita is currently one of the largest employers of labour in the Isoko land and has contributed significantly to regional stability.

“We therefore find it grossly misleading for individuals who are unfamiliar with the prevailing realities on the ground in Isoko to make provocative calls for the split or cancellation of Tantita’s contract.

“We strongly condemn these attempts by faceless groups to derail the vital work of Tantita and, by extension, the Federal  Government’s renewed efforts to secure the nation’s oil and gas assets,”  he said.

The people advocated for the enactment of legislation establishing special courts to prosecute oil thieves and their financiers.

While calling for the expansion of Tantita’s contract, the people said, “A winning team deserves applause, not replacement.”

The mammoth crowd, numbering thousands, unanimously passed a vote of confidence in Tantita and its management team.