The Northern Ethnic Youths Group Assembly (NEYGA) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resist calls for the cancellation of the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), warning that abrupt policy reversals could risk a resurgence of unrest in the Niger Delta.
In a statement released and signed by Mallam Dan‑Musa Ibrahim, NEYGA described the Tantita surveillance arrangement as a “winning team” that has contributed to reversing the decline in Nigeria’s oil production while generating employment for thousands of youths across the Niger Delta. The group asked the federal government to renew and sustain the contract rather than scrap it.
“This is not just a contract; it is a massive job creation engine,” Ibrahim said. “From Bayelsa to Akwa Ibom and other states of the Niger Delta region, thousands of our youths who were once lured by crime are now gainfully employed, living decent lives as protectors of our national assets.”
NEYGA argued that the surveillance framework implemented through Tantita and other indigenous security firms has substantially curtailed crude oil theft, bolstered output in the Niger Delta and contributed to stronger inflows to the Federation Account. The statement asserted that these developments have improved fiscal predictability and encouraged renewed investor engagement.
“This is not conjecture; it is an empirical reality,” Ibrahim said, adding that the arrangement has helped reduce the incentives for sabotage by incorporating local actors into a structured and lawful security framework. He also stressed the wider security benefits, noting that militancy and agitation in the region have historically been linked to economic marginalization and disputes over oil resources.
By engaging local youths in legitimate work, NEYGA said, the surveillance contract has improved intelligence collaboration between communities and federal authorities and promoted social stability in a region that has long been vulnerable to violence and theft.
“We believe the company has written its name on sand and deserves all support — even from us in the northern region,” Ibrahim added.
Political and policy implications
NEYGA framed its appeal as both a security and economic argument, urging the Tinubu administration to sustain policies that have, the group says, delivered measurable benefits. The statement cautioned that canceling or abruptly changing the surveillance arrangement could reverse gains and risk renewed agitation among disenfranchised youths who might again be drawn to criminality and sabotage.
Analysts and stakeholders have previously emphasized that any security contracting in the Niger Delta must be accompanied by transparency, robust oversight and a clear legal framework to prevent abuses and ensure that gains are sustainable. NEYGA’s intervention adds an ethnically diverse voice to the debate, highlighting the cross‑regional interest in stability of the nation’s oil production.
What’s next
NEYGA urged the Presidency to renew the contract and encouraged continued engagement with host communities, local security providers and federal agencies to build on the progress claimed under the current surveillance regime.
Requests for response were addressed to the Office of the President and Tantita Security Services; official comments were not immediately available at the time of publication.
Note to editors: NEYGA’s claims regarding employment figures and production improvements were presented in the group’s statement. Independent verification of specific numbers was not provided in that statement and will require confirmation from the relevant federal agencies and industry operators.
