Niger Delta Stakeholders Demand Forensic Audit of $144m Pipeline Protection Contract

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region have called for a comprehensive and independent forensic audit of the Federal Government’s pipeline surveillance contract, raising concerns over its effectiveness in curbing oil theft.

The call was made under the Niger Delta Congress (NDC), which criticised the contract awarded for pipeline protection and alleged that it has not delivered the expected results in boosting crude oil production or significantly reducing theft.

The surveillance contract is handled by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, owned by former militant leader Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo. The agreement is reportedly valued at about $144 million annually.

In a statement signed by Comrade Godfrey Onade, the group argued that the current structure—where a single company is responsible for overseeing the entire operation—has limited effectiveness.

According to the stakeholders, Tantita’s operatives face challenges accessing remote and swampy terrains across the Niger Delta, leaving vast creek networks vulnerable to illegal activities such as pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft.

They described the arrangement as a “monopoly model” that is fundamentally flawed, insisting that even supporters of the system acknowledge its limitations in covering difficult terrain.

The group also pointed to frequent discoveries of illegal pipeline connections and makeshift refineries by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as evidence that surveillance efforts remain insufficient.

They argued that despite the significant financial investment, Nigeria’s crude oil production continues to fall short of national targets. Recent output figures reportedly average around 1.46 million barrels per day, dropping to about 1.31 million barrels in February 2026—below both the government’s target of 1.84 million barrels per day and its OPEC quota of 1.5 million barrels per day.

The Niger Delta Congress maintained that ongoing oil theft continues to erode national revenue and undermines claims that the situation has been effectively addressed.

The group is now calling for the contract to be terminated if an audit confirms poor performance, and has proposed a more decentralised approach involving multiple local operators alongside collaboration with national security agencies.

“We call for a thorough audit of the activities of Tantita to uncover the true extent of its performance and financial dealings,” the statement read.

The stakeholders warned that if authorities fail to act, they may pursue legal action to compel accountability and protect national interests.