The joint Committees on Petroleum Resources of the National Assembly on Wednesday dismissed three petitions filed against the pipeline surveillance contract, passing a vote of confidence on Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, security agencies and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited for their role in boosting Nigeria’s oil production.
The resolution followed a motion moved by Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Midstream), Henry Okojie, at a one-day parliamentary roundtable on pipeline security and the fight against crude oil theft.
Available records indicate that Nigeria’s oil production has risen to about 1.8 million barrels per day as of April, up from roughly 900,000 barrels per day in 2022 when the surveillance contract was introduced.
Okojie said the engagement of Tantita and collaboration with security agencies had yielded significant gains in safeguarding oil infrastructure, leading to increased national revenue.
Speaking at the event, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, said global geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, have heightened the need for stable energy supply, with crude oil still accounting for a major share of global energy consumption, especially in transportation.
He noted that past challenges in Nigeria’s oil sector—ranging from pipeline vandalism and crude theft to illegal refining—had cost the country billions of dollars annually, with losses estimated at between 10 and 30 per cent of production at some point.
According to him, the introduction of the pipeline surveillance contract, including the involvement of private security operators and host communities, has helped reverse the trend.
“The synergy of private surveillance providers, security agencies, and community engagement has led to remarkable improvements in daily production levels,” he said.
Tajudeen added that recent reports show that most illegal tapping points have been dismantled, with oil output rebounding significantly and export receipts improving.
He also highlighted the socio-economic impact of the initiative, noting that it has created employment opportunities for thousands of youths in the Niger Delta, many of whom were previously involved in agitation or illegal activities.
Despite the progress, the Speaker acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly in the areas of accountability, transparency, and the effectiveness of some surveillance frameworks. He stressed the need for continuous oversight and reforms to address lingering gaps.
He further underscored the role of the National Assembly in strengthening the sector through legislation, including the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, which introduced measures such as the Host Community Development Trust to give oil-producing communities a direct stake in the industry.
Tajudeen said the Assembly has also intensified oversight, closed regulatory loopholes, and ensured that crude oil theft is treated as both an economic and national security issue.
He described the roundtable as an opportunity to consolidate gains from the surveillance contract, enhance transparency, deepen community engagement, and align regulatory frameworks with evolving global energy realities.
“The world is looking for energy security, and Nigeria must position itself as a credible alternative. We must secure our assets, stabilise production, and remain open for business.”
