IPF, 19 Other Niger Delta Groups Urge National Assembly to Dismiss Alleged Smear Campaign Against Tantita, Maton Engineering
A coalition of 20 civil society and socio-political organisations from the Niger Delta has called on the National Assembly to disregard what it described as orchestrated attempts to discredit Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited and Maton Engineering Company.
In an open letter addressed to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the groups appealed to federal lawmakers not to entertain what they termed “sponsored blackmail and misinformation” allegedly driven by interests opposed to ongoing anti-oil theft operations in the region.
The letter, jointly endorsed by organisations including the Ijaw Publishers Forum (IPF), Ijaw People’s Development Initiative (IPDI), and the Third Phase Leadership Forum of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, expressed concern over mounting criticisms directed at the two firms contracted to secure oil pipelines.
Groups Cite Gains in Anti-Oil Theft Campaign
According to the coalition, crude oil theft has inflicted severe economic damage on Nigeria and host communities over the years, necessitating the adoption of new surveillance strategies by the Federal Government.
The groups argued that since the engagement of Tantita and Maton Engineering under the current pipeline surveillance framework, there has been a marked reduction in crude oil theft, a boost in production levels, and broader community participation in safeguarding oil infrastructure.
They maintained that the surveillance arrangement incorporates host communities through employment opportunities, intelligence sharing, and grassroots stakeholder engagement, thereby reducing local complicity in illegal bunkering activities.
Warning Against Reversal of Current Model
The coalition cautioned lawmakers against actions that could weaken the present structure, insisting that previous approaches; including purely community-based and strictly military-driven models; did not deliver sustainable results.
They further alleged that individuals benefiting from illegal oil operations may be behind campaigns aimed at undermining the contractors, urging the National Assembly to carefully scrutinize any claims brought before it.
“The National Assembly should not allow itself to be misled by vested interests seeking to destabilize a system that is delivering results,” the letter stated.
Economic and Social Impact Highlighted
Beyond security outcomes, the groups emphasized the economic benefits generated by the contracts, noting that thousands of jobs have reportedly been created across security, engineering, logistics and local supply chains.
They also pointed to corporate social responsibility initiatives, including youth empowerment schemes, skills acquisition programmes and support for small businesses in host communities.
The coalition concluded by urging federal lawmakers to prioritise policies that sustain peace, stability and economic growth in the Niger Delta, stressing that safeguarding oil infrastructure remains critical to Nigeria’s national revenue and development.
The open letter was endorsed by 20 organisations spanning Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo, Ondo, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, reflecting what the coalition described as broad-based regional support for the current surveillance arrangement.
