The Joint Committees on Petroleum Resources of the National Assembly have rejected petitions challenging the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to private security firm, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.
The decision followed a motion moved by the Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Midstream), Prince Henry Okojie, during a one-day parliamentary roundtable on pipeline security and efforts to curb crude oil theft in Nigeria.
During the session, the committee commended Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited for its role in curbing crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
The lawmakers also passed a vote of confidence in Tantita, security agencies, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited for improving oil production and safeguarding critical national assets.
The National Assembly’s resolution reinforces a coordinated approach to protecting Nigeria’s oil infrastructure, seen as crucial to the country’s economic stability.
Earlier, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Jimoh Ibrahim, said the roundtable provided an opportunity to consolidate gains from the surveillance contract, address existing gaps, and strengthen transparency, accountability, and community engagement.
He urged stakeholders to reposition Nigeria as a reliable energy supplier in the global market.
Similarly, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to addressing challenges in the oil sector through legislation, oversight, and funding support.
He cited key legal frameworks such as the Petroleum Production and Distribution (Anti-Sabotage) Act and the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which have introduced stricter penalties for vandalism and enhanced community participation through initiatives like the Host Community Development Trust.
Abbas explained that under the PIA, host communities risk losing benefits if vandalism occurs within their areas, thereby promoting a sense of shared responsibility in protecting oil assets.
He stressed that crude oil theft should be treated not only as an economic crime but also as a national security threat requiring coordinated action.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bayo Ojulari, said the coordinated approach with security agencies has significantly reversed the situation in the Niger Delta region.
He noted that the development has helped restore investor confidence in the oil and gas sector, adding that production capacity rose to about 1.7 million barrels per day in 2025 and is projected to reach 1.8 million barrels per day in 2026.
Ojulari assured that NNPCL would continue to maximise production to enhance economic stability in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a related development, the Chief of Defence Operations, Major General Jamal Abdulsalam, who represented the Chief of Defence Staff, assured continued collaboration with critical stakeholders to safeguard oil and gas infrastructure for sustainable energy supply and improved quality of life.
He said joint operations in the region have adopted both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to achieve maximum results, given the sector’s importance to national economic development.
Government officials, including the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, also acknowledged Tantita’s contributions to improved oil output and reduced pipeline vandalism.
Cov/Bashir M
