President of the Isoko National Youth Assembly Worldwide (INYA)
Comrade Eniwake Orogun has attributed Nigeria’s improved crude oil production levels to the effectiveness of the current pipeline surveillance structure.
He disclosed that production has increased from below 700,000 barrels per day before 2022 to approximately 1.7 to 1.8 million barrels per day in recent times.
According to him, the rise in output is directly linked to enhanced security, community involvement, and the dismantling of illegal bunkering networks.
He stressed that the figures, corroborated by national oil authorities, demonstrate that the system is delivering measurable results.
“As ethnic leaders from key oil-producing communities, we understand the current arrangement and how beneficial it has been, not just to our local economies but to the Niger Delta at large,” he said.
The INYA President recalled that stakeholders under the aegis of the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Leaders Forum had, about two years ago in Port Harcourt, critically reviewed pipeline surveillance operations and observed a clear departure from the ineffective structures that existed before Tantita’s engagement.
According to him, prior to the current arrangement, pipeline security was largely informal and ineffective, with little or no personnel on ground and funds often handed to individuals without accountability.
“You could hardly find anyone physically guarding pipelines. What existed was a system where money was given to individuals to ‘manage’ surveillance, but the work was not done and the resources never reached the communities,” he said.
He explained that the introduction of a community-based model by Tantita changed the narrative, as locals were directly recruited, verified by community leaders, and empowered to protect infrastructure within their domains.
“Today, people from the communities are responsible for safeguarding pipelines. They are visible, accountable and directly involved. That is why you are seeing increased participation and improved outcomes,” he added.
Orogun noted that the impact of the new system is evident in Nigeria’s crude oil output, which he said has risen from below 700,000 barrels per day before 2022 to about 1.7 to 1.8 million barrels per day currently.
He attributed the increase to the drastic reduction in illegal bunkering and improved monitoring across pipeline corridors.
Reacting to criticisms of the system, the youth leader questioned the identity and motives of those calling for decentralisation, alleging that many of them were beneficiaries of the old, flawed system or individuals previously linked to oil theft.
“I saw a publication signed by a faceless group calling on President Bola Tinubu, and one of the signatories had been prosecuted by the EFCC for oil bunkering. These are the people making the noise,” he alleged.
He further argued that the current surveillance framework had driven criminal elements out of business, making it inevitable for them to resist reforms.
“When you chase people out of illegal activities they have depended on for years, you don’t expect them to keep quiet. They will fight back using propaganda,” he said.
While acknowledging that crude oil theft may still occur in areas outside Tantita’s operational mandate, particularly on the high seas, Orogun stressed that such responsibilities fall under the Nigerian Navy and relevant government agencies, not the surveillance contractor.
“Tantita is not responsible for crude oil exports or offshore activities. If theft occurs in those areas, the appropriate authorities should be held accountable,” he clarified.
He also dismissed claims that Tantita had failed to effectively engage local communities, insisting that thousands of youths across Isoko, Ndokwa and Urhobo areas had been employed through a structured process endorsed by traditional rulers and community leaders.
According to him, the decentralisation being advocated by critics is a guise for self-interest, identifying three categories of agitators: displaced oil bunkers, individuals seeking financial gains, and those hoping to take over the contract.
“These are not people acting in the interest of the Niger Delta or Nigeria. They are driven by personal gain and should not be taken seriously,” he said.
Orogun added that the ongoing Senate probe into pipeline surveillance contracts should not be misinterpreted as an indictment of the current system, noting that oversight and investigation are normal in a democratic setting.
He maintained that from the grassroots perspective, the existing arrangement is working and delivering tangible results.
“For us on ground, the truth is clear, the system is working. Illegal bunkering has reduced, communities are involved, and production has improved. Those complaining are those who have been cut off from illegal benefits,” he stated.
