National Assembly Endorses Ojulari and Tantita as Key Pillars in Anti-Oil Theft War
In a decisive show of confidence, the National Assembly has strongly backed the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, while elevating Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited as a central pillar in Nigeria's ongoing fight against crude oil theft. With over 300 lawmakers across the Senate and House of Representatives endorsing the current pipeline surveillance framework, the Assembly's position underscores a growing consensus: the Ojulari–Tantita partnership is delivering results where previous efforts struggled.
Synergy Between Leadership and Operations Praised
At a Joint Committee Roundtable on pipeline security, legislators repeatedly pointed to the synergy between Ojulari's leadership at NNPCL and Tantita's on-ground operations as a game-changer in protecting Nigeria's oil assets. Lawmakers described Ojulari as providing focused and reform-driven leadership, aligning institutional strategy with operational efficiency, while Tantita was credited with translating policy into tangible outcomes through aggressive surveillance, intelligence gathering, and rapid response to threats.
This is a model that is working. We are seeing real, measurable progress in oil production and a clear reduction in pipeline vandalism, a lawmaker noted during deliberations. The Assembly declared Tantita a critical national asset, a designation that reflects its growing importance in safeguarding the country's economic lifeline. Lawmakers said the company's performance has not only reduced illegal bunkering but also restored a level of stability that is beginning to boost investor confidence.
Warnings Against Fragmentation and Dismissal of Petitions
Central to the lawmakers' endorsement is the argument that Ojulari's decision to sustain and strengthen collaboration with Tantita has brought coordination and accountability to a space once plagued by fragmentation and inefficiency. They warned that any attempt to dilute this structure—particularly through calls to split surveillance contracts—could reverse hard-won gains. Fragmentation will only create loopholes. What we need now is consolidation, not division, another lawmaker stressed.
The Assembly also dismissed petitions against Tantita, with Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, stating unequivocally that no credible evidence was found to support the allegations. All claims were carefully reviewed and found to be unsubstantiated. There is no basis to question the integrity or performance of Tantita, he said.
Consistency and Data-Driven Results Emphasized
Further reinforcing the narrative of progress, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe and Hon. Prince Okojie cautioned against disrupting a system already yielding visible results, noting that consistency remains key to sustaining momentum. Top government officials, including Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, also acknowledged improvements linked to the current framework, citing enhanced security coordination and declining incidents of pipeline breaches.
Data presented at the session showed rising oil output and a marked drop in vandalism—outcomes lawmakers directly attributed to the effectiveness of the Ojulari–Tantita collaboration. Analysts say the Assembly's strong endorsement sends a clear signal: Nigeria is prioritising proven, results-driven strategies, with Ojulari's leadership and Tantita's operational capacity now firmly at the heart of the country's anti-oil theft architecture.
