Traditional rulers and community leaders in the Niger Delta have voiced strong support for Tantita Security Services Limited following the National Assembly's vote of confidence in the company. The endorsement came after a joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives dismissed multiple petitions against Tantita, citing lack of merit in the complaints. The Ovie of Great Idjerhe Kingdom and Chairman of the Host Communities Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (HOSCON), King Monday Obukohwo Whiskey, welcomed the decision, attributing improved security and reduced crime in oil-bearing communities to the firm's operations. He noted that over 60 indigenes from his community are employed by Tantita, with more than 100 oil wells located in the area.
Sam Akpemegi, President-General of the Ughelli Descendants Union, praised Tantita's covert and overt surveillance strategies, stating that security has improved significantly since the company began operations, with coverage extending to over 80 per cent of local communities. The Odiologbo of Ofagbe Kingdom, HRM Engr. Ogaga Ikpoku, described the National Assembly's decision as timely for regional stability. Christopher Akpotu, President-General of the Isoko Development Union (IDU), acknowledged uneven benefit distribution but affirmed the tangible gains, especially for youth employment. He urged unity among communities to prevent external interests from exploiting internal disputes. The Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Ikenga Ugochinyere and Senator Agom Jarigbe, confirmed that all allegations against Tantita were thoroughly reviewed and found unsubstantiated.
King Monday Obukohwo Whiskey's public backing of Tantita Security Services Limited reveals a shifting power dynamic in the Niger Delta, where traditional rulers are no longer mere cultural figures but active stakeholders in security and economic decision-making. His pointed question—why single out Tantita when others in the oil value chain face no scrutiny—exposes the selective targeting of contractors operating in a volatile, high-stakes environment. The monarch's emphasis on employment for 60 indigenes and improved security in a community riddled with oil infrastructure underscores a deeper truth: legitimacy in the Niger Delta now hinges on visible, local impact.
This story reflects the fragile balance between security, patronage, and survival in the region. With over 80 per cent of Ughelli communities under Tantita's surveillance, the company has become embedded in the social fabric, replacing state absence with private security and job creation. The National Assembly's dismissal of petitions, backed by committee chairs Ugochinyere and Jarigbe, signals political reluctance to disrupt a system that, for once, delivers measurable calm. Yet Akpotu's admission of uneven benefit distribution hints at simmering tensions beneath the surface—where inclusion remains selective, and youth expectations outpace opportunity.
For ordinary Nigerians in the Niger Delta, particularly unemployed youths, Tantita's contract represents more than security—it is a rare pipeline to livelihood. The reduction in crime and social vices cited by Whiskey is not just a statistic; it is the difference between militancy and minimum wage. But as communities compete for crumbs of inclusion, the risk of fragmentation grows.
This is not an isolated endorsement—it is part of a broader pattern where private firms fill governance gaps in the Niger Delta, turning security contracts into de facto development programmes.
