Tantita Nigeria Limited’s sustained pipeline surveillance and protection efforts have contributed to improved crude oil production, enhanced environmental safety and increased economic activities across parts of the Niger Delta, the company’s Media Consultant, Dr. Paul Bebenimibo, has said.

Bebenimibo, who is also Special Adviser to Tantita Chairman, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, spoke on the sidelines of an award presented to Tantita by Blueprint Newspapers in recognition of the company’s contributions to pipeline security and national development.

Tantita tackles oil theft, pipeline vandalism

According to Bebenimibo, Tantita’s intervention in pipeline surveillance since 2022 has helped strengthen the security of critical oil infrastructure and combat oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other illegal activities affecting Nigeria’s petroleum industry.

“Over the years, awards have been coming in, and that shows that Tantita is really doing the job very well,” he said.

He explained that improved security around oil-producing communities was also creating conditions for legitimate economic activities such as fishing and farming to gradually return.

Bebenimibo said Tantita remained committed to supporting efforts to raise Nigeria’s crude oil production to 2.5 million barrels per day, stressing that protecting oil infrastructure was essential to achieving the target.

Drones deployed to monitor Niger Delta creeks

He attributed part of the company’s success to Tompolo’s extensive knowledge of the Niger Delta terrain, noting that his familiarity with the region’s creeks and communities had helped Tantita develop strategies for monitoring oil facilities.

Bebenimibo disclosed that the company had deployed modern technology, including drones, to monitor activities across the creeks and identify illegal operations.

“We have acquired drones that are now picking up every illegal activity that is going on in the creek,” he said.

Tantita employs over 60,000 Niger Delta youths

Beyond pipeline surveillance, Bebenimibo said youth empowerment remained a major component of Tantita’s approach to tackling insecurity and reducing incentives for young people to engage in oil theft and other criminal activities.

He disclosed that more than 60,000 youths are currently employed by the company and receive monthly payments.

He added that Tantita had also introduced skills acquisition programmes and supported youths, women and other members of host communities through grants and other economic empowerment initiatives.

“Tantita is not just employing the youths. It is also giving them skills and promoting their businesses in the area by giving grants to youths, women and men,” he said.

According to him, the combination of employment, skills development and community support has helped reduce criminal activities in some parts of the Niger Delta.

Tantita strengthens relationship with media

Bebenimibo also described the media as an important partner in communicating Tantita’s activities and promoting transparency around its operations.

He disclosed that the company had constructed a correspondents’ secretariat in Delta State and was planning similar facilities in other Niger Delta states, as well as a national facility for journalists.

He said the initiative was aimed at strengthening Tantita’s relationship with the media and ensuring that the company’s contributions to national development were properly communicated to Nigerians.

Pipeline security and youth empowerment

Bebenimibo maintained that Tantita’s approach to security went beyond enforcement, as the company also focused on creating legitimate economic opportunities for young people and supporting host communities.

He expressed confidence that sustained collaboration among security agencies, oil companies, host communities, the media and private security contractors would further strengthen the protection of Nigeria’s oil infrastructure.

He said such collaboration would ultimately support increased crude oil production, reduce losses associated with oil theft and contribute to higher national revenue.