ABUJA/Nigeria: Tantita’s sustained surveillance of oil pipelines and other critical infrastructure in the Niger Delta is contributing to improved security around oil-producing communities and creating conditions for legitimate economic activities to thrive, 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 the company by Blueprint Newspapers in recognition of its contribution to pipeline security and national development.
He said the recognition reflected the impact of Tantita’s involvement in efforts to curb oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other illegal activities affecting Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
According to Bebenimibo, the company has made progress in pipeline surveillance since taking on a major role in the protection of oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta in 2022.
“Over the years, awards have been coming in, and that shows that Tantita is really doing the job very well,” he said.
He said improved security around oil-producing communities was also creating opportunities for legitimate economic activities, including fishing and farming, to gradually recover.
Bebenimibo said Tantita remained committed to efforts to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production to 2.5 million barrels per day, stressing that sustained protection of oil infrastructure would be critical to achieving higher output.
He attributed part of the company’s approach to the knowledge of the Niger Delta terrain possessed by its chairman, Tompolo, particularly his familiarity with the creeks and communities in the region.
The media consultant also disclosed that Tantita had deployed technology, including drones, to strengthen surveillance operations and identify illegal activities in the waterways.
“We have acquired drones that are now picking up every illegal activity that is going on in the creek,” he said.
Beyond surveillance, Bebenimibo said the company had made youth empowerment part of its strategy for addressing insecurity and reducing the attraction of illegal oil-related activities among young people.
He claimed that more than 60,000 youths were currently employed by the company and paid monthly, while additional beneficiaries had received support through skills acquisition programmes, grants and other 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.
Bebenimibo said the combination of employment, skills development and support for community-based businesses could provide young people with legitimate alternatives to oil theft, illegal bunkering and other criminal activities.
He also identified the media as an important partner in communicating the company’s activities and strengthening public understanding of its operations.
According to him, Tantita had established a correspondents’ secretariat in Delta State and was considering similar facilities in other Niger Delta states, as well as a facility for journalists at the national level.
He said the initiative was intended to strengthen the relationship between the company and the media while providing journalists with better opportunities to engage with and report its activities.
Bebenimibo maintained that the protection of oil infrastructure should go beyond enforcement, arguing that creating economic opportunities for youths and supporting host communities were also important to achieving sustainable security in the region.
He called for greater cooperation among security agencies, oil companies, host communities, the media and private security contractors to strengthen the protection of oil assets and support Nigeria’s crude oil production.
The award from Blueprint Newspapers, he said, further reinforced Tantita’s commitment to its role in protecting critical oil infrastructure and contributing to economic activity in the Niger Delta.
