How Tantita’s Surveillance Operations Boosted Oil Output Recovery

Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd (TSSNL)’s role in providing pipeline surveillance operations in the Niger Delta has significantly entrenched lasting peace and stability in the region. Findings show that, despite escalating insecurity in several parts of the country, tension in the Niger Delta has been on the decline due to the sustained impact of Tantita’s operations.

Tantita’s success story continues to attract commendations from stakeholders across the country, who view peace and stability in the Niger Delta as critical to sustainable economic growth and national development.

For a region often described as the “goose that lays the golden eggs,” the Niger Delta remains central to Nigeria’s economic growth and prosperity. It holds vast potential as a hub of economic development, which can only be fully realised through sustained peace and stability.

Beyond this, the Federal Government’s revenue and broader economic growth targets are heavily dependent on the stability of the Niger Delta region.

Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), in collaboration with other security outfits, has played a key role in safeguarding Nigeria’s oil assets and fostering lasting peace in the Niger Delta.

Its operations have transformed the oil and gas landscape, enabling Nigeria to expand its oil production quota while significantly reducing incidents of oil theft.

The impact of TSSNL’s operations was highlighted in a recent survey, where a majority of respondents attributed the decline in security incidents in the Niger Delta to the pipeline surveillance efforts carried out by the company.

Violent Events Decline In South-South

Data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) shows that violent events declined by 20.9 per cent in the South-South geopolitical zone between 2023 and 2025. Fatalities from such incidents also dropped by 8.3 per cent within the same period.

Although the South-East recorded a higher decline of 26.9 per cent in conflict incidents, fatalities in the region rose by 8.3 per cent.

ACLED data tracked violence against civilians, battles between state and non-state actors, protests, riots, strategic developments, and explosions/remote violence.

The South-West also recorded a 14.1 per cent decline in incidents, though fatalities rose by 12.21 per cent. In contrast, insecurity worsened significantly in parts of Northern Nigeria.

The North-West recorded a 127.9 per cent increase in incidents between 2023 and 2025, alongside a 99.1 per cent rise in fatalities.

North-East Remains Volatile

In the North-East, incidents rose by 19.5 per cent, while fatalities increased by 26.4 per cent over the period under review.

The North-Central region also saw a 74.1 per cent rise in incidents and a 38.3 per cent increase in fatalities.

ACLED recorded a total of 4,701 incidents nationwide in 2023, rising to 5,815 in 2024 and 6,570 in 2025, bringing the three-year total to 17,086.

By region, the North-West accounted for 1,076 incidents in 2023, 1,727 in 2024, and 2,452 in 2025, totaling 5,255 cases.

The North-East recorded 923 incidents in 2023, 985 in 2024, and 1,103 in 2025, bringing its total to 3,011.

The North-Central region recorded 918 incidents in 2023, 1,140 in 2024, and 1,598 in 2025, totaling 3,656.

In the South-South, there were 651 incidents in 2023, 720 in 2024, and 515 in 2025, totaling 1,886.

The South-West recorded 573 incidents in 2023, 654 in 2024, and 492 in 2025, totaling 1,719.

The South-East recorded 560 incidents in 2023, 589 in 2024, and 410 in 2025, totaling 1,559.

Fatality Trends Across Regions

National fatalities rose from 8,847 in 2023 to 9,862 in 2024, and further to 12,858 in 2025, bringing the three-year total to 31,567.

The North-East recorded 3,469 deaths in 2023, 2,530 in 2024, and 4,486 in 2025, totaling 10,485.

The North-West recorded 2,351 deaths in 2023, 3,952 in 2024, and 4,680 in 2025, totaling 10,983.

The North-Central region recorded 1,921 deaths in 2023, 2,038 in 2024, and 2,657 in 2025, totaling 6,616.

In the South-East, fatalities stood at 471 in 2023, 598 in 2024, and 510 in 2025, totaling 1,579.

The South-South recorded 399 deaths in 2023, rising to 438, before declining to 366 in 2025, giving a total of 1,203.

The South-West recorded 231 deaths in 2023, 306 in 2024, and 259 in 2025, totaling 796.

2026 Data Shows Continued Pressure

For the first five months of 2026 (to May 23), ACLED recorded 3,477 incidents nationwide: North-West (1,318), North-East (910), North-Central (781), South-South (158), South-West (206), and South-East (104).

Fatalities for the same period stood at 7,061, with the North-East recording 3,303, North-West 2,153, North-Central 1,335, South-East 56, South-South 124, and South-West 90.

ACLED data indicates that Nigeria’s security environment deteriorated significantly between 2023 and 2025, with both incidents and fatalities rising sharply.

The North-West emerged as the country’s primary conflict hotspot, while the North-East remained the deadliest region. The North-Central zone also experienced sustained escalation, reflecting a widening geography of insecurity.

Southern regions generally recorded lower levels of violence, although the South-East experienced elevated insecurity in 2023–2024 before a decline in 2025.

Oil Production Hits 15-Month High

Data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) shows that Nigeria’s crude oil production exceeded its OPEC quota in May, reaching a 15-month high and reinforcing its position as Africa’s leading oil producer.

The country produced an average of 1.53 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil during the month.

Including condensates of 170,446 bpd, total output stood at 1.7 million bpd.

Nigeria’s production represented 102 per cent of its OPEC quota of 1.5 million bpd, according to the regulator.

Stakeholders Laud Tantita

Chairman of the House Committee on Host Communities, Dekor Dumnamene Robinson, said Tantita’s contributions to national security deserve commendation.

Lawmakers under the Joint Committee on Host Communities and Public Petitions also praised the firm for safeguarding critical oil infrastructure and boosting crude production.

They cited reductions in pipeline vandalism, recovery of oil output, and improved peace in host communities as key achievements under the leadership of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo).

The Joint Committee passed a vote of confidence on Tantita and called for renewal of its surveillance contract.

Similarly, the National Chairman of HOSTCOM, His Highness Benjamin Style Tamaranebi JP, commended the Federal Government for backing the initiative, describing oil asset protection as vital to national survival.

A Lagos-based analyst, Jamiu Idris, noted that Nigeria’s oil sector was on the brink of collapse before the introduction of Tantita’s surveillance framework in 2022, when production fell to a historic low of 1.015 million bpd.