By Inuwa Lawal.

Two years down the line after the engagement of Tantita Security Service, drastic reduction in crude oil theft , arrests and seizures as well as increase in crude oil production has been recorded.

This was the fall out of the end of year Award organised by the oil security outfit to engage stakeholders, security agencies and staff of the company held on Saturday.

In his address to mark the occasion, High Chief Keston Pondi praised Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative NEITI and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission NUPRC showed an outstanding results between January 2023 – December, 2024 showed a whopping decrease of 79% compared to the previous year.

He commended the NNPC E&P under the leadership of Mele Kolo Kyari, crude loss stood at 36.9Million barrel and 800,000 to 900,000 barrel per day , a dark period for the industry, now improved within two years to hitting 2 million barrel per day.

The Managing Director, Tantita Security Services, as an outfit engaged by the government to fight against oil theft and pipeline vandalism, High Chief Kestin Ebimorbowei Pondi reiterated the commitment towards bringing a lasting solution to the unpatriotic act, stating that efforts will be redoubled in the subsequent years.

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 that had been nipped in the bud in the last two years.

Spanning two years, Tantita has achieved over 3,693 crude oil theft , with illegal connection point and theft, 1784 illegal refineries as well 3063 IR in cluster, with 204 cases of Aversion / Deterent.

Many boats were confiscated ranging to about 8 vessels,tug boats and badges 6 and 3 respectively, confiscated 117 vehicles , 52 tanker trucks , 1743 wooden boats, 7 tricycles/ motorcycles, involved in illegal bunkering.

He commended the cooperation and collaboration with the federal government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his formidable security apparatus who have synergised with the oil security service.

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.

” 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.”