Pipeline Security Firm Claims 96% Oil Output in Niger Delta Amid Allegations
A private oil pipeline surveillance company, Abili Integrated Services Limited, has made a bold assertion that operations under its supervision in the Niger Delta region have consistently achieved up to 96 per cent oil production. This declaration comes as the firm urges stakeholders in the petroleum sector to uphold principles of transparency, fairness, and professionalism in managing oil infrastructure security across the volatile region.
Firm Dismisses Allegations of Incompetence and Complicity
The company has firmly dismissed allegations of incompetence and complicity in oil sabotage activities, emphasizing that its performance in safeguarding critical oil assets within its coverage areas demonstrates both operational integrity and effectiveness. Brown Edoghotu, the Managing Director of Abili Integrated Services Limited, addressed journalists in Port Harcourt to refute claims linking him to acts of vandalism.
Edoghotu clarified that his presence at a widely circulated oil spill scene was part of his legitimate duties, not involvement in illegal activities. According to his account, Abili was engaged in 2021 by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (now Oando) to provide comprehensive security for oil facilities across 12 local government areas spanning Rivers, Bayelsa, Imo, and Delta states.
Verifiable Operational Results and Accountability
Edoghotu stressed that the company does not cover all oil-producing regions but has maintained high production outcomes within its operational scope. "These are not mere claims; they are verifiable operational results. At Abili Integrated Services Limited, we stand by integrity, performance, and accountability. We believe that results, not rhetoric, should determine credibility," he stated emphatically.
The company's response was triggered by allegations reportedly raised by another surveillance contractor, Tantita Security Services Limited, during a recent roundtable organized by the Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources of the National Assembly on April 8, 2026. Edoghotu alleged that a video presented at the session portrayed him in a misleading manner, suggesting involvement in pipeline vandalism.
Incident Clarification and Industry Credibility Concerns
He described this development as a deliberate attempt to tarnish his reputation and discredit his company. Edoghotu maintained that the incident referenced in the footage occurred on September 22, 2022, at Oshika in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State. He explained that he visited the site alongside security operatives and oil company officials for assessment and response purposes.
"My presence at the scene was part of my responsibility to ensure immediate assessment and swift resolution to prevent recurrence. I was there with my team, representatives of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company, military personnel, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps," he detailed.
Edoghotu further noted that the former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, had met his team during a visit to the site while they were dismantling an illegal camp. He accused unnamed operators of attempting to secure a monopoly over pipeline surveillance contracts by maligning competitors and making unverifiable claims about their own performance.
Call for Ethical Practices and Indigenous Participation
While expressing support for indigenous participation in oil asset protection, he cautioned against what he described as unethical practices capable of undermining industry credibility. "We are not against any Niger Delta indigene securing contracts from the Federal Government, but it should not be at the expense of others through false allegations and misrepresentation," he asserted.
The firm's claims highlight ongoing tensions and competitive dynamics within Nigeria's oil pipeline security sector, underscoring the critical need for verified performance metrics and ethical conduct to ensure sustainable oil production and infrastructure protection in the Niger Delta.
