Scores of demonstrators on Wednesday stormed the National Assembly complex as the Senate and House of Representatives held a high-level roundtable to tackle the enduring problem of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta.
The protesters, under the banner of the Coalition of Civil Society for Economic Protection, marched to the gates of the legislature, chanting solidarity songs and brandishing placards that read “Oil thieves Are Conspiring Against Tantita” and “Say No to Oil Bunkering.”Security forces, including police operatives, barred them from entering the premises.
The demonstration coincided with a joint parliamentary roundtable organised by the Senate and House Committees on Petroleum Resources to review pipeline security strategies and the ongoing fight against crude oil theft.Top government officials expected at the session include Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu, Director-General of the Department of State Services Tosin Ajayi, and Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Limited, Kestin Pondi, among others.
Speaking to journalists at the protest venue, convener Tesleem Kolawole urged lawmakers to assess the performance of Tantita Security Services fairly and objectively.“We call on the lawmakers to sincerely and holistically look at the journey of Tantita from when they started securing the country to date, without fear or favour,” he said.
Kolawole noted the remarkable recovery in Nigeria’s oil production, which rose to about 1.8 million barrels per day in November 2024 from a low of around 500,000 barrels per day before Tantita’s engagement in 2022.He stressed the need for continuity rather than disruption of a model that has delivered tangible results in oil security, youth empowerment, and economic recovery.“This is not the time to weaken a framework that has helped restore production... This is the time to strengthen accountability, improve coordination, and protect what is working,” Kolawole added.
Crude oil theft has cost Nigeria billions of dollars in lost revenue over the years, prompting a blend of military and private sector interventions to safeguard critical oil infrastructure.The outcome of the parliamentary roundtable is expected to influence future policies on protecting the nation’s oil assets and boosting production.
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