By Julius Agadaga, Yenagoa
Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, TSSNL, has been credited with stabilizing oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta, creating over 200,000 jobs, and supporting a rise in national crude oil production to 1.8 million barrels per day.
A US-Based Ijaw Activist, Mr. Kabowei Akamande disclosed this at a conference on “Sustaining the Vision and Izon Development Agenda of High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo for Future Generations” organized by Save the Niger Delta Group in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Akamande, who doubles as a laboratory quality control professional ireviewed Tantita’s performance between 2022 and 2026, said the indigenous security firm adopted a community-based security model rather than relying solely on military force.
Drawing historical parallels with Nelson Mandela’s post-Apartheid South Africa, Akamande argued that lasting security comes from addressing “bread-and-butter” needs.
He said Tantita’s pro-populi mantra of “A Hungry Community is a Security Risk” guided its operations.
According to him, the company created over 200,000 jobs for local youths, including ex-militants, and empowered 80 local entrepreneurs with N800 million in business grants of N10 million each.
The firm also partnered with traditional rulers, women and youth leaders to foster stakeholder ownership of pipeline protection.
On the core mandate, Akamande said Nigeria’s crude oil production rose from 1.2 million bpd in 2022 to 1.8 million bpd in 2026 following Tantita’s intervention.
He listed key achievements to include:
Reduction of oil theft from over 700,000 bpd to 9,600 bpd, which he said translates to $43.2 million saved daily at $80 per barrel.
Decommissioning of over 700 illegal pipeline connections and dismantling of 1,700 illegal refinery sites.
Confiscation and handover of vessels and barges used for crude oil theft to relevant agencies.
Renovation of 35 army offices at 3 Battalion, Effurun, and construction of the Nuhu Ribadu Hydrocarbon and Maritime Security Command and Control Centre for the NSCDC.
Resuscitation of onshore and shallow-water gas fields previously abandoned due to insecurity.
Akamande added that Tantita modernized surveillance by moving from manual patrols to drone-based Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, ISR. In 2026, the company signed an agreement with Textron Systems of America for military-grade drones for persistent monitoring.
He noted that the oil sector grew by 20.46% in 2025, helping drive overall GDP growth of 4.23%.
Akamande urged stakeholders to strategize on the next phase of the Niger Delta struggle for resource ownership and control. He said the spirit of the Kaiama Declaration demands that prosperity be spread along ethnic lines to avoid fragmentation.
He cited Section 8, Chapter 26 of the UN Law of the Sea in calling for attention to Ijaw ownership of offshore oil and gas fields within 200 nautical miles of Ijawland.
He disclosed that in April 2026, the National Assembly passed a unanimous vote of confidence in the tripartite security arrangement, describing Tantita’s surveillance contract as a “Strategic National Asset” essential for sustaining 1.84 million bpd production.
