Pipeline vandals and crude oil thieves have devised new ways of beating security surveillance in the Niger Delta region, installing closed-circuit cameras in forests and other areas of their operations, Tantita Security Service said on Wednesday.

Captain Warrendi Enisuoh, Executive Director of Operations and Technical Services of Tantita, disclosed this at a one-day parliamentary roundtable on the state of pipeline security and the battle against crude oil theft. He said those sabotaging the nation’s pipeline now install CCTV to monitor security agencies’ activities and detect when Tantita operatives are approaching.

He also said the vandals have established operational command and control centres around the area and acquired missile launchers capable of shooting down any aircraft flying across the area.

He said if the government had not addressed pipeline surveillance in August 2022, the country would have been in trouble. He added that the surveillance contract between the company and the government spans over 2,000 kilometres across seven states.

He disclosed that before the contract, crude oil theft in the Escravous area was like a community effort, where crude flowed freely without fear of government or security agents.

Kestin Ebomorbowei, Managing Director of Tantita, said the surveillance contract has helped reduce sabotage in the system and increased oil production to about 1.84 million barrels per day.

However, the National Assembly joint Committees on Petroleum Resources, organisers of the roundtable, dismissed three petitions against the pipeline surveillance contract, while passing a vote of confidence on Tantita Security Service, the security agents, and the NNPCL for helping to restore the nation’s oil production.

Oil production, according to available records, stood at about 1.8 million barrels per day as of April, an increase from about 900,000 barrels per day in 2022 when the surveillance contract was awarded.

The resolution followed a motion moved by the Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources, Midstream, Henry Okojie, at a one-day parliamentary roundtable on the state of pipeline security and the battle against crude oil theft

Okojie said that Tantita and the security agencies have recorded many achievements in securing the nation’s petroleum assets, thereby increasing oil revenue for the country.

Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), who moved the motion for the dismissal of the three petitions, said all claims in the petitions were subjected to detailed scrutiny and found to be unsubstantiated.

“There is no credible evidence to sustain any of the allegations. We invited the petitioners on several occasions, including an invitation to appear before this roundtable, but they failed to honour the invitation. Accordingly, all complaints against Tantita should be dismissed,” he said.

Lawmakers declared Tantita a critical national asset, citing its track record in reducing pipeline vandalism and improving crude oil production levels, while calling for the long-term renewal of the company’s surveillance contract, firmly rejecting proposals to decentralise or split the arrangement among multiple operators. (The Nation)