Reps panels, Niger Delta stakeholders back Tantita, reject decentralisation of pipeline contract

The Joint Committee of the House of Representatives on Host Communities and Public Petitions

The Joint Committee of the House of Representatives on Host Communities and Public Petitions on Wednesday passed a sweeping vote of confidence on Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, dismissing ongoing calls for the “decentralisation” of the company’s pipeline surveillance contract as baseless, politically motivated and contrary to the interests of the Niger Delta.

The position was adopted at the end of a high-level Joint Retreat involving lawmakers, HOSTCOM trustees and stakeholders from oil-producing communities across the Niger Delta, held in Owerri, Imo State.

The retreat, themed “Strengthening Pipeline Surveillance Through Host Communities Partnership, Accountability and Sustainable Development Under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021,” ended with far-reaching resolutions endorsing Tantita’s operations and urging the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, to grant the firm a fresh long-term contract extension.

In resolutions signed at the conclusion of deliberations on May 27, 2026, the Joint Committee declared that Chapter 3 of the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, 2021, had already established a comprehensive framework for decentralised community participation in pipeline protection and oil sector benefits through the Host Communities Development Trust, HCDT, structure and the mandatory three per cent operating expenditure contribution by oil companies.

According to the lawmakers, Sections 234 to 258 of the PIA already provide a legally recognised decentralised mechanism for host communities in oil-bearing areas to participate in development and benefit-sharing.
The retreat therefore rejected fresh agitation for the decentralisation of the pipeline surveillance contract currently handled by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.

Participants accused promoters of the agitation of pursuing what they described as personal commercial interests under the guise of community advocacy.

Part of the resolutions read: “All calls for further decentralisation of the private security contract are hereby dismissed as baseless and anti-Niger Delta.”

The committee maintained that the pipeline surveillance arrangement remained a private contractual relationship between the NNPCL and Tantita and should not be confused with the statutory HOSTCOM framework created under the PIA.

In one of the strongest endorsements yet of the firm’s operations, lawmakers and stakeholders commended Tantita for what they described as effective and patriotic service in safeguarding Nigeria’s critical oil infrastructure.

The retreat specifically cited the recovery of crude oil production, reduction in pipeline vandalism and restoration of relative peace in oil-producing communities as major achievements recorded under the leadership of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Government Ekpemupolo.

“Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, in partnership with NNPCL, has rendered demonstrably effective service in the protection of crude oil pipelines and the recovery of national crude oil production,” the resolutions stated.

The Joint Committee subsequently passed a unanimous vote of confidence on the company and called on the Federal Government and NNPCL to approve a long-term renewal of the surveillance contract to consolidate gains already achieved in the fight against crude oil theft and illegal bunkering.

The retreat also extended its endorsement to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the NNPCL and the Office of the National Security Adviser for what participants described as their commitment to stabilising the nation’s petroleum sector and protecting Nigeria’s economic lifeline.