Analyst Advocates for Retaining Tompolo's Pipeline Surveillance Contract to Sustain Oil Gains
A policy analyst, Jamiu Idris, has strongly recommended that the Federal Government of Nigeria should continue its contract with Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), which is led by former militant leader Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo. In a detailed analysis released in Lagos, Idris emphasized that the decision regarding pipeline security must be based on empirical results and performance metrics rather than political considerations, especially as Nigeria faces ongoing economic recovery challenges.
Significant Increase in Crude Oil Production
According to Idris, Nigeria's crude oil production experienced a dramatic decline, dropping to approximately 1.015 million barrels per day in September 2022. However, since the introduction of Tantita's surveillance operations, there has been a remarkable rebound. He noted that by July 2025, output had surged to around 1.8 million barrels per day, including condensates. This increase of over 300,000 barrels per day represents a critical boost to government revenue, foreign exchange earnings, and overall fiscal stability for the nation.
Idris attributed this improvement to the adoption of a community-based surveillance model by Tantita, which has enhanced intelligence gathering and significantly reduced large-scale oil theft in the Niger Delta region. He stated, The only metric that truly matters is the volume of oil that safely reaches export terminals, adding that this framework has proven more effective than previous centralized security approaches.
Risks of Discontinuing the Contract
The analyst issued a stern warning that discontinuing Tantita's contract could reverse the recent gains in oil production. He argued that such a move might expose oil infrastructure to renewed vandalism and theft, undermining the stability achieved in the Niger Delta. Idris also cautioned against calls for decentralizing pipeline surveillance, noting that fragmenting command structures could weaken coordinated responses to security threats. He explained that pipelines cut across multiple communities and states, making unified oversight essential for effective monitoring.
Furthermore, Idris highlighted that the existing arrangement has contributed to relative stability in the Niger Delta by creating employment opportunities for thousands of youths. This, he said, reduces incentives for militancy and illegal activities, thereby fostering a more secure environment. While acknowledging ongoing criticisms of the contract, he maintained that focusing on operators' personal backgrounds rather than performance outcomes could undermine national interests. He also alleged that some opposition to the arrangement may be driven by individuals displaced from illegal oil bunkering activities and by political actors seeking to exploit the issue for partisan advantage.
In related developments, it was reported that Tompolo recently led South-South leaders in a visit to former President Goodluck Jonathan, though the purpose was initially misrepresented in media reports as being about peace and security in the Niger Delta, rather than political matters.
