Many assumed that the number one security firm currently making waves in the Niger Delta region, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) came into existence of recent, particularly as the company's reputation was buoyed with the award of oil pipeline surveillance contract in 2022 by the Federal Government of Nigeria via the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). However, TSSNL, as of 2023, has been in existence for 18 years!

Established in 2005 by Chief Engr. Kestin Pondi, a notable Ijaw son of Gbaramatu Kingdom and Ogulagha Kingdom, both in the Warri South-West and in the Burutu local government areas of Delta State, respectively, TSSNL, among other companies founded by the entrepreneur, can be attributed the status of a social enterprise—a business concept that puts the interests of people and the environment foremost ahead of shareholders' gain, driven by a social or environmental mission to creating positive social change.

While being a profit enterprise that is recruited by the NNPCL to deliver on the contract of securing oil pipelines and their related assets in the oil and gas industry in the Niger Delta region, TSSNL achievements are however, in the long term, no way near the future gains that its current engagement is yielding in the region. In other words, the current gains are infinitesimal when compared to the future gains in the region. Let me explain.

The real costs of pipeline vandalism and oil theft are beyond the loss of oil revenues and the cost of repairs or replacements of damaged oil assets belonging to direct stakeholders (the government and the oil companies). Its real costs, which cannot be quantified, are however borne by indirect stakeholders who are inhabitants of oil producing sites. While the loss of revenues can be recouped and damaged oil assets can be replaced overtime, that of polluted sites is not one that can be so easily reclaimed in the nearest time.

These real costs borne by inhabitants of oil producing sites are in a chain reaction, beginning with the contamination of clean air and water that leads to loss of livelihoods (as fishing and farm sites become contaminated), which in turn leads to the shortening of lifespan of inhabitants as a result of outbreak of diseases and the coming into existence of new ailments. In all, these negative environmental impacts lead to increases in mortality and poverty rates, coupled with the disastrous effects of climate change.

It is therefore imperative that the best investment ever that should be made in the Niger Delta is one that would first guarantee the protection of the natural habitat of the region's environment from pollutants so as to ensure sustainable livelihoods. Sadly, most persons still are not aware (or pretend not to be in the know) of the consequences of oil spill to the environment.

The Niger Delta region has been known as one of the most polluted areas in the world. According to the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR (now the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC), an estimated 1.89 million barrels of petroleum were spilled in the region between 1976 and 1996 out of a total of 2.4 million barrels that spilled in 4,835 incidents (approximately 220 thousand cubic metres). Another report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) puts the total as 6,817 oil spills between 1976 and 2001, which account for a loss of three million barrels of oil, of which more than 70% were not recovered. 69% of these spills occurred off-shore, a quarter was in swamps and 6% spilled on land. 

And what's the implication of these spills? As documented in another UN report of 2011, the environment of the Niger Delta is so polluted that it could take 25 to 30 years to reverse the associated sustainability consequences of the pollution. And just recently, UNEP scaled the challenge as massive with it claiming that it would cost $1 billion in the first five years alone to clean up the Niger Delta. The more polluted the region is, the less opportunities it offers for jobs and wealth creation.

Before the engagement of TSSNL of recent, illegal oil trade was a free for all in the Niger Delta with no thoughts given to the consequences of the effects of oil pollution. Moreover, asides oil theft, the springing up of illegal oil trade centers in the region was deliberately used by oil companies to blame every oil spills that emanated from their pipelines and facilities on vandals, thereby relieving companies from taking responsibility as well as depriving most communities from compensation.

At present, TSSNL has charted a new dawn in the Niger Delta. What was thought an impossible feat has been made a reality. Though it wasn't an easy task, however, the security firm is winning the war of oil theft on a daily basis. Production numbers have rebounded and oil revenues streaming to direct stakeholders have also risen.

But in what could be described as expository is TSSNL's unveiling of the fact that oil theft is much more bigger than was earlier envisaged. Before now, the searchlight on curbing oil theft and pipeline vandalism was beamed on illegal local vendors. But since TSSNL mounted the stage, more revelations have been made, and among them is the fact that there exist a well-organised cartel of oil thieves operating in the region with possible collusion with oil companies, security, and government officials.

Ironically, Niger Deltans will be the ones to suffer the most if their environment is not safeguarded from going extinct in the nearest future. And so, TSSNL operations should be seen as one that is beyond securing oil pipelines from vandalism and oil theft alone. That TSSNL has risen to this task to clean up the filthy stables should be commended by all as the NNPCL's choice of the company is a square peg in a square hole, because no one has a more major stake in ensuring the protection and preservation of the Niger Delta environment than Niger Deltans themselves. 

Asides doing a herculean job of setting an unbeatable record against oil theft, TSSNL has etched its name in the annals of history in the Niger Delta as the company that is rebirthing a new regenerative Niger Delta with a guaranteed future for all. Its efforts should truly be commended and its activities supported by not only well meaning Niger Deltans, but Nigerians at large.

#penglobalreport #Tantita