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Tantita Eulogizes President Tinubu, Commends Security Agencies, Tantita Staffers
By Inuwa Lawal
The company’s Chief Executive, High Chief Keston Pondi, hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for their relentless support and encouragement which enabled Tantita to excel in its mandate.
Pondi, in his remarks at the company’s end of the year party on Saturday, also gave kudos to all security agencies and host communities for their uncommon support since Tantita was hired by the Federal authorities to complement the war against criminality associated with petroleum products.
He also remembered those who lost their lives in the course of the war against crude oil theft, noting that rapid increase in crude oil production showed that their death was not in vain. Pondi said they would continue to be remembered for paying the supreme sacrifice in the national interest.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we (Tantita) won’t be where we are today if not for the unparalleled support and encouragement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, all arms of the security agencies and our various communities in the Niger Delta. We are eternally grateful to Mr. President, NSA, security agencies and our communities.”
“We must also recognise the roles played by our fallen heroes, I mean our workers and other stakeholders who lost their lives in the course of the struggle to totally eliminate crude oil theft in the nooks and crannies of the Niger Delta. They would not die vain and indeed, the steady increase in crude oil production has shown that they didn’t die in vain,” Pondi added.
The Managing Director, Tantita Security Services, an outfit engaged by the government to fight against oil theft and pipeline vandalism High Chief Kestin Ebimorbowei Pondi has reiterated the commitment towards bringing a lasting solution to the unpatriotic act, stating that efforts will be redoubled in the subsequent years.
“He praised President Tinubu, Ribadu, Host communities and Security agencies- Navy, Army, Airforce, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC), Department of State Security Services
(DSS) for their support in the fight against crude oil theft and their encouragement of Tantita in carrying out its assignment. Their support made the achievements come easy in the onerous assignment.”
He observed one minute silence in honour of those who lost their lives in the struggle, adding that the achievements recorded by the increase in crude oil production showed that they didn’t die in vain, saying fallen heroes are workers of Tantita and stakeholders who lost their Iives in the course of the fight against oil theft.
Pondi maintained that the award night was not only for celebration, but victory against adversaries and their collaborators who are bent on bringing the country down, through various means of oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
While promising to continue to secure the economy of the country through a safe haven in the oil extraction, saying efforts must be redoubled towards making significant changes positively.
The Managing Director stated that less than two years of the engagement of Tantita Security Services, stakeholders in the oil industry have testified the efficacy of the security outfit in addressing crude oil theft .
The unparalleled commitment of the oil security outfit, arrest of illegal bunkerers their vessels and other equipment been deployed for the criminal acts was a pointer to the success story we are celebrating today.
While eulogizing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he lauded the security apparatus in the last one year , as playing a greater roles in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration on securing of National Assets.
He also paid glowing tributes for those members of staff who lost their lives in the course of national assignment and security of national treasure, others who have displayed indispensable roles out to be recognized and also honored to encourage them .
The release further states..
“Welcome Address High Chief (Engr.) Kestin Ebimorbowei Pondi, FNII, FNSE, the Managing Director Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.”
” Good evening, esteemed guests, colleagues, and friends,
It is a great honour to welcome you to Tantita’s Award Night: Honouring Excellence This Christmas. Tonight, we gather not just to celebrate achievements but to reflect on the incredible journey we have undertaken together in our fight against oil theft and crude oil vandalism. ”
” This battle is not just about protecting the nation’s oil and gas infrastructures, it is a mission to secure the economic future of Nigeria. At Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, we have embraced this responsibility with unwavering resolve, and I am proud to say we are making significant strides in this fight. ”
” Before the advent of the Industry wide Security architecture called Operation Plug as established by the Board of NNPC E&P, under the distinguish leadership of Mele Kolo Kyari in 2022, crude oil losses measured 36.69 million barrels, with daily production output of about 800,000–900,000 bpd. It was a dark time for the industry and the country at large. ”
“In less than two years, of the engagement of Tantita, the results were astounding as the report from NEITI (Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative) and NUPRC (Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission) for the year 2023 (January to December 2023) shows very significant reduction of oil losses from 36.69 million barrels in 2022 to 7.68 million barrels, reflecting a whopping 79% decrease compared to the previous year. ”
” In the Span Tantita’s operations within these years (August 2022 – Nov 2024) the contribution of Tantita’s workforce who have shown unparalleled commitment in the fight against Crude oil theft discovered a total of 3,963 incidents captured on IMRA. Out of these numbers, 702 were illegal connection points, 971 were cases of theft, 1,784 were illegal refinery cases involving the destruction of 3,063 (as some of the IR were in a Cluster, having more than one Train), and 204 cases of Aversion/Deterrent.”
“It is also worth noting that within this same period of intense work, Tantita Team apprehended 8 vessels, (3) Tugboats and 6 Barges, 117 Vehicles, 52 Tanker Trucks, 47 Fibre/Speed boats, 7 tricycle/motorcycles and 1,743 wooden boats involved in illegal operations.
8. While it will be exhausting to highlight every details of our journey to curtail the scourge of oil theft, a whole lot of other discoveries have been made by our team that has subsumed the scourge of oil theft as either a crime of need or that of greed. ”
“Our success is rooted in collaboration and the support we have received from the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Led administration whose commitment and partnership have strengthened our resolve and amplified our impact. Our immense gratitude goes to the unwavering support of the Government Security Agencies especially the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Civil defense, the Department of State Security Service and the Nigerian Navy. Your dedication to eradicate oil theft and vandalism has emboldened us to achieve milestones that were once thought unattainable. ”
“While we recount our success story, we will not forget those who paid the ultimate price. The ones in whose blood the flag of our success rest on. The military especially personnel of the Nigerian Army, civil defense, key informants and of course personnel of TSSNL that died in the course of ensuring that our nation have a booming economy, we mourn and celebrate your sacrifices in same breathe. ”
“Equally, I want to recognise the incredible efforts of our team—a resilient and dedicated group of individuals whose collective contributions drive our success. Whether in the field, planning operations, providing support, or ensuring seamless execution, every member of the Tantita family plays an indispensable role in achieving our mission. Your courage, diligence, and determination inspire us all, and tonight, we celebrate you. ”
“As we honour excellence through these awards, let it serve as a reminder of what we can achieve when we work together with unity of purpose. They are not just symbols of individual accomplishment but also a testament to the power of teamwork and shared vision. ”
“While we celebrate tonight, let us also look forward with renewed determination. The journey ahead will require even greater effort, but together, with the support of the government and the strength of our united team, there is no challenge we cannot overcome.”
” Thank you for joining us on this special occasion. Let us enjoy the evening, celebrate our victories, and embrace the possibilities of a better future.
. Welcome, and thank you once again.”
…Gives condition to forgive Fubara
… Says I wanted Fubara’s removal, Tinubu saved Rivers
Abubakar Yunusa
Nyesom Wike has described talks about a coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu as not sincere and believes those behind it are doing so for selfish reasons.
Wike, the Minister of the FCT, said this in Abuja on Friday during a media chat, accusing the masterminds of running away from issues bedevilling the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s main opposition party.
He said, “those who are looking for a coalition are for selfish interests, the likes of Atiku and other people, which coalition, with whom?
“Why not come in to repair your party? Everybody wants to become president of the country, nobody wants to say, look, let me build our party so that at the end of the day, our party will be in a formidable position as an opposition party to take over power.
“You don’t do that, the only thing you want to do is let me find a way; how I will be the one, and if that does not happen, then it’s to your tent, oh Israel,” the immediate past governor of Rivers state said.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, are among political heavyweights planning to float a coalition to dislodge President Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 election.
That push has continued to make headlines in the country in the past months, but Wike said those behind it, especially members of the main opposition PDP, should fix their party instead.
Wike criticised Atiku, the arrowhead of the coalition movement, saying the ex-VP is about to make the mistakes that led to the PDP’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election.
“You make the mistake yesterday, you want to repeat the same mistake today, tomorrow you make the same mistake, and then you come out to say you were rigged out, who rigged you out? You’ve already rigged yourself by causing crisis,” Wike said.
The minister, who is a member of the PDP, also said the party is not ready for the next presidential election scheduled for 2027.
“The PDP is not ready for the 2027 election. It is very obvious. For instance, I have an examination and I am going to class to read. Indeed, am I reading? Am I studying? You don’t need to deceive anybody that you are reading. You are only trying to read so that people will see that you have carried your bag to class,” he said.
“That is the situation of the PDP. So, they cannot say for sure that they are ready for 2027. Power struggle cannot help the party.”
A prominent Northern Christian cleric, Isa El-Buba, has raised alarm over what he described as an ongoing genocide in Plateau State.
El-Buba alleged that foreign terrorists are colluding with some local herders to violently displace communities and occupy their ancestral lands.
“These are not the local herders that we used to know. These are Fulani terrorists who target communities. When these terrorists come in, they connive with some of the locals.
”They give them information. They come in from outside and they invade,” he said.
Speaking during an appearance on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Friday, a socio-political programme on Channels TV, the cleric strongly supported the recent assertion by Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, that the attacks in the state amount to genocide.
The Jos-based cleric, who hails from Borno State, while speaking on the recent killings on the Plateau, argued that the repeated and coordinated nature of the violence indicates a well-orchestrated plan to destabilise the region and ultimately reconfigure its demographic and territorial identity.
“Just like the Governor said: it’s a genocide. It’s not something that just happened. It’s been happening with several attacks in the past and recently, what has happened on the Plateau,” El-Buba said.
“You know very well that Plateau is cosmopolitan. It houses virtually all Nigerians. And if anything goes wrong with Plateau, everything goes wrong with Nigeria.”
He warned that Nigeria’s unity could be in jeopardy if urgent intervention is not undertaken.
“If there is no intervention, there is a bleak future for this country will stand together. We are actually in a very serious time in the history of this country.”
The cleric pointed to the disturbing reality that over 60 communities in Plateau have been attacked, their inhabitants killed or displaced, properties destroyed, and the attackers now living in the conquered communities.
“In some of the communities that were attacked—over 60 of them—the people who attacked those communities displaced the people, killed them, destroyed their properties and now occupy those communities. This tells you a lot about what these people are up to,” he stated.
He further alleged that the attackers feel emboldened due to perceived protection during the previous administration.
“In the past administration, these people felt it was their government. They felt protected. These people move with arms. I raised an alarm, called on the then president to speak to his own people in his own dialect.”
He emphasised that the violence is not being perpetrated by the traditional Fulani herders known to local communities, but by armed, foreign Fulani extremists with a deliberate plan.
According to El-Buba, the goal of these attacks is not random violence, but a larger ideological agenda to seize land and permanently displace the original owners.
“They have a programme, a plan, a mandate, and that mandate is that they must occupy and send the owners of the land away.”
His comments have sparked renewed calls for federal authorities to act decisively to restore peace, justice, and secure land rights in Plateau and other affected regions.
El-Buba concluded with a passionate appeal for national unity and decisive leadership to prevent further bloodshed and protect Nigeria’s fragile cohesion.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday asked Christians in the country to use the Holy Week and Easter to reflect on the enduring values of sacrifice, redemption, love, and hope.
The President made the call in a message he signed on Good Friday, two days to the Easter celebrations.
According to Tinubu, he was saddened by the recent insecurity in the country. He also directed security operatives to decisively end the insecurity without delay.
“The recent tragic incidents and the loss of lives in some parts of our country deeply saddened me. I understand the pain and fear these incidents have caused. Let me assure you that my administration’s resolve to restore peace and security remains unshakable. Forces of evil will never prevail over our country,” Tinubu said.
“I have given clear directives to the Armed Forces and all relevant security agencies to end insecurity decisively and without delay. With the unwavering courage and commitment of our gallant men and women in uniform, we are turning the tide and making steady progress in reclaiming peace and stability.
“As President of our blessed nation, I draw inspiration from this timeless message of hope and renewal. I remain steadfast in my commitment to delivering the promise of a Renewed Hope, a better, more just, and prosperous Nigeria for all.
“The Holy Week, which spans Palm Sunday through Holy Thursday and Good Friday and culminates in Easter Sunday, calls us to reflect deeply on the enduring values of sacrifice, redemption, love, and hope.”
The President also expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their “patience and resilience as our economy begins to show encouraging signs of recovery.”
“We understand the economic challenges many of you are facing, and we are working tirelessly to restore investor confidence, stabilise key sectors, and build an inclusive economy that serves the interests of all Nigerians.
“During this Easter, we join the global Christian community in thanking God for Pope Francis’s recovery. We pray that his renewed strength continues to inspire his leadership and service to humanity.
“I earnestly pray that Easter’s spirit fills every heart and home with renewed faith in the immense possibilities ahead of us as a nation. Just as Christ triumphed over death, so too shall our country triumph over every challenge we face. The present moment may be cloudy, but it will usher in a glorious day,” he added.