Stakeholders Say Tantita’s Pipeline Security Key To Oil Licensing Round Success

Nigeria has opened a new chapter in its upstream petroleum sector with the successful conclusion of the 2025 Licensing Round conducted by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). The exercise, which attracted strong investor participation, is expected to add 500 million barrels to the nation’s crude oil reserves and raise production by 300,000 barrels per day within the next three years.

For many industry stakeholders, however, the success of the licensing round will ultimately be measured not by the number of oil blocks awarded but by the country’s ability to convert the licences into actual production. Achieving that objective, they argue, will require sustained protection of critical oil infrastructure, continued efforts to curb crude oil theft, and the preservation of peace and stability across the Niger Delta.

The licensing round is widely seen as another milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to reposition its upstream petroleum industry and strengthen its long-term energy security. It also reflects the country’s determination to attract fresh investment, expand reserves and increase production in an increasingly competitive global energy market.

According to the NUPRC, 143 companies submitted 200 bids for 37 of the 50 oil blocks offered during the commercial bid phase. The commission expects the successful development of the assets to deliver an additional 500 million barrels in reserves and increase crude oil production by about 300,000 barrels per day within three years.

Stakeholders, however, insist that realising those ambitious targets will require much more than a successful bid process. They say Nigeria must sustain the gains already recorded in oil asset protection, intensify the fight against pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft, and maintain the prevailing peace in the Niger Delta.

To them, this also requires entrusting critical surveillance responsibilities to organisations with proven expertise and a demonstrated commitment to protecting strategic national assets.

That, they note, was the rationale behind the Federal Government’s decision to engage Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) to safeguard oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu retained Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, led by High Chief Dr Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, to continue protecting Nigeria’s oil assets in the region.

The objective of the engagement is to ensure that Nigeria derives the full economic benefits from its petroleum resources by safeguarding critical infrastructure and preventing losses arising from crude oil theft, illegal refining and pipeline vandalism.

Working in collaboration with other security agencies, Tantita has focused on protecting oil pipelines, preventing economic sabotage and promoting peace and stability across oil-producing communities.

Stakeholders say the company’s operations have helped secure vital oil infrastructure, ensure the uninterrupted evacuation of crude oil and move Nigeria away from years of persistent production losses towards greater stability, planning, growth and development.

According to them, Tantita’s surveillance activities have transformed the operating environment in the oil and gas sector, enabling Nigeria to expand its crude oil production quota while significantly reducing the incidence of oil theft.

They argue that the company’s record in mitigating risks associated with pipeline vandalism has positioned it as a dependable partner in protecting one of Nigeria’s most strategic economic assets.

As a result, stakeholders have continued to advocate sustained collaboration with Tantita, maintaining that the protection of oil infrastructure remains central to Nigeria’s broader economic development agenda.

Indeed, in the development of any nation, strategic assets play a vital role in driving economic growth and improving the welfare of citizens. Whether operating, non-operating or leased, such assets contribute directly to national prosperity and must be adequately protected to maximise their value.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr Muda Yusuf, believes Nigeria’s renewed upstream drive comes at a critical period when the global energy industry is undergoing a major transition.

According to him, protecting oil assets will play a significant role in boosting production and ensuring the success of the 2025 Licensing Round.

He described the exercise as an important step towards building a more resilient, attractive and future-ready energy sector but stressed that adequate security must accompany the investment drive.

“We are in the age of energy transition. NUPRC’s operation in this exercise is good for the economy. It will boost foreign reserves, firm up the naira and strengthen the macroeconomic environment while deepening foreign capital inflows into the domestic economy,” Yusuf said.

He added that investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is also expected to increase on the back of improved security around critical oil infrastructure.

“The new momentum generated will help build capacity to increase the level of production in the oil and gas industry,” he added.

An Abuja-based energy expert, Steven Martins, also described the transparent outcome of the 2025 Licensing Round as far more than another administrative exercise.

According to him, it represents a strategic recalibration of Nigeria’s energy ambitions at a time when global energy markets are changing rapidly and the country faces increasing pressure to strengthen production, attract fresh investment and reposition itself in the era of energy transition.

“As NUPRC looks forward to adding another 500 million barrels to Nigeria’s crude oil reserves through the 2025 bid round, those additional barrels will ultimately come from the commencement of operations by the 31 companies that emerged successful in the licensing exercise.

“Protection of oil assets should therefore remain one of the priority areas for stakeholders, and this is where Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited should continue to receive support in delivering on its mandate,” he said.

Martins explained that the successful blocks were spread across several petroleum provinces, including 16 Niger Delta onshore blocks, 18 Niger Delta shallow-water blocks, one deep offshore block, three Benin Basin onshore blocks, four Anambra Basin onshore blocks, four Chad Basin onshore blocks and four Benue Trough blocks.

Providing further insight into the exercise, the Executive Commissioner for Development and Production at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the assets offered during the 2025 Licensing Round possess the capacity to significantly expand Nigeria’s hydrocarbon reserves.

Speaking at the Commercial Bid Conference for the Nigeria Licensing Round, themed “Expanding Opportunities: Right Play, Right Place, Right Time,” Eyesan disclosed that the assets on offer have the potential to add about 500 million barrels to the nation’s reserves.

She said, “The assets available in this Licensing Round have the potential to add about 500 million barrels to Nigeria’s reserves, increasing our existing reserves of crude oil and condensate—which currently stand at 37.01 billion barrels—and 215.19 trillion cubic feet of gas.”

According to her, the commission was not surprised that the 13 frontier basin blocks received no commercial bids, explaining that such assets could still become attractive in the future depending on evolving market conditions.

Eyesan noted that many of the assets currently being offered by the commission had earlier been recovered from existing operators, stressing that the NUPRC would continue to evaluate oil blocks that no longer meet operators’ development obligations before returning them to the national asset pool.

“The reason why we are in the market is because of the blocks that we have recovered from existing operators,” she said.

Industry analysts say the licensing round demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to repositioning Nigeria’s upstream petroleum industry by unlocking dormant assets, encouraging fresh investment and accelerating field development.

They also noted that the exercise marked one of the few occasions in Nigeria’s petroleum history when frontier basins attracted such remarkable investor attention, underscoring growing confidence in the country’s upstream reforms and regulatory framework.

The successful bidders emerged from a highly competitive commercial process involving indigenous exploration and production companies, service providers and investment groups.

The companies that emerged successful in the 2025 Licensing Round include SSonic Petroleum Limited (PPL 2A29), CFP Pipeline and Flowlines (PPL 2A30), Dutchford E&P Limited (PPL 2A32), Attabanson Global Company Limited (PPL 2A33 and PPL 901), Rosem Energy Limited (PPL 2A38), Pivot-GIS Limited (PPL 2A39), Network E&P (PPL 2A40), Asharami (PPL 2A41), LexOil (PPL 2A42), BVOF (PPL 2A43), Gupsco Energy Limited (PPL 2A44 and PPL 2A51), Saratoga (PPL 2A45), Volante (PPL 2A46), Concept-Reel Petroleum Services Limited (PPL 2A47 and PPL 2A55), Clinton Oil Field (PPL 2A48 and PPL 2A62) and Nuway Oaklane Limited (PPL 2A49).

Others are Ramec (PPL 2A50), Italia (PPL 2A53), Blueridge E&P (PPL 2A54), Up Energies Limited (PPL 2A56), AYM Shafa (PPL 2A57), Blackrock Holdings Limited (PPL 2A58), Funtay Integrated Business Limited (PPL 2A59), Riparian Development and Production Limited (PPL 2A60), Nikstallis (PPL 2A61 and PPL 900), Stardeep Petroleum (PPL 2010), Dakoda & U Limited (PPL 308 and PPL 800), Southborne Oil and Gas Limited (PPL 902), Lanaka Petroleum (PPL 903), Highban Resources Limited (PPL 700) and Eyre Energy Limited (PPL 801).

For many observers, however, the successful conclusion of the licensing round represents only the beginning of the journey.

They argue that converting the newly awarded licences into producing assets will require sustained investment, efficient regulatory oversight, stable fiscal policies and, most importantly, a secure operating environment.

According to them, without effective protection of oil infrastructure and uninterrupted production activities, the ambitious targets of adding 500 million barrels to Nigeria’s reserves and raising daily production by 300,000 barrels may prove difficult to achieve.

It is against this backdrop that several industry stakeholders continue to emphasise the strategic importance of pipeline surveillance and oil asset protection as indispensable components of Nigeria’s upstream growth strategy.

Stakeholders have continued to argue that Nigeria’s ambitious upstream targets can only be realised if the gains recorded in pipeline surveillance and oil asset protection are sustained.

In a published report, the President-General of the Niger Delta Progressive Alliance, Nse Victor Udoh, said pipeline surveillance has enabled national institutions to move beyond reactive crisis management to strategic planning, durable systems-building and long-term national ambition.

According to him, it is important to clearly define the role of pipeline surveillance within the broader energy ecosystem.

“Energy security encompasses the entire petroleum value chain—from exploration and production to refining, distribution, pricing policy and subsidy frameworks. Pipeline surveillance does not manage these domains,” he said.

Udoh explained that the mandate of pipeline surveillance is precise: safeguarding the critical infrastructure that transports petroleum resources.

“Yet this single function has proven foundational. Without secure transportation channels, production targets falter, refining plans collapse, exports decline and fiscal projections become unreliable,” he stated.

He argued that asset protection is not merely a supporting activity but a prerequisite for economic stability.

“Asset protection, in this context, is not a supporting activity. It is a precondition for economic order. In effect, the pipeline is the hinge on which the entire petroleum value chain turns. When that hinge is weak, every other link in the chain carries strain. When it is secure, the entire system gains coherence.”

According to him, sustained monitoring, intelligence gathering and rapid response systems have sharply reduced pipeline breaches and illegal tapping, leading to improved crude oil receipt rates and national production levels not seen in recent years.

He said the improvement has helped restore Nigeria’s credibility in the international oil market, enabling the country to recover market share previously lost to competitors such as Angola and Libya.

“Economic stability follows predictability. When crude flows are secure, refineries can plan feedstock intake with assurance. Export commitments can be met without fear of sudden shortfalls. Gas-to-power projects can operate without recurrent shutdown risks.

“Investors can assess Nigeria’s petroleum sector with clearer risk profiles. Surveillance therefore does more than stop theft. It reintroduces reliability into national energy planning, and reliability is the bedrock upon which sustainable economic growth is built.

“With predictable crude oil flows, national budgeting becomes more credible, infrastructure planning becomes more precise and long-term commercial contracts become easier to negotiate. Predictability is the silent currency of modern economies, and pipeline surveillance has begun restoring it.”

Udoh further argued that the benefits extend well beyond operational efficiency.

According to him, higher accounted-for production has translated directly into increased export earnings, stronger foreign exchange inflows and improved fiscal capacity for government.

He added that the improved performance of Nigeria’s national oil company in recent years reflects lower production losses and greater operational continuity.

“As revenues stabilise, government budgeting gains credibility and development planning becomes less speculative. The economy gains the breathing space needed to invest in infrastructure, social services and economic diversification.

“That breathing space allows policymakers to move beyond crisis management and focus on structural reforms, industrial expansion and long-term social investment. It also reduces dependence on emergency borrowing and short-term fiscal interventions.”

Traditional rulers and community leaders across the Niger Delta have also called for sustained support for Tantita Security Services Limited following the vote of confidence passed on the company by the joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives.

The leaders said the company’s involvement in protecting oil and gas infrastructure has produced visible improvements across oil-producing communities, particularly in reducing criminal activities and creating employment opportunities for young people.

Speaking on the development, the President-General of the Isoko Development Union, Christopher Akpotu, commended the National Assembly for dismissing petitions filed against the company.

He described the decision as a positive development for the Niger Delta and urged stakeholders to focus on maximising the region’s economic opportunities rather than engaging in unnecessary disputes.

“That is the right way to go. There are many opportunities in the oil and gas sector. We should focus on how to derive more benefits rather than fighting over what has already been allocated,” he said.

Akpotu warned that persistent disagreements among communities could create opportunities for outsiders to benefit at the expense of host communities.

“At the end of the day, if we continue fighting, we give room to those who have no stake in our communities to take what rightfully belongs to us,” he added.

While acknowledging concerns about the distribution of benefits, he maintained that the pipeline surveillance contract has positively impacted many communities.

“The truth is that many communities and youths have benefited from the surveillance contract. It may not be evenly distributed, but the impact is evident.”

He also called on the company to deepen stakeholder engagement by involving more traditional rulers, community leaders and youth groups to ensure greater inclusiveness and long-term sustainability.

Similarly, the President-General of the Ughelli Descendants Union, Sam Akpemegi, said Tantita has significantly improved security since commencing operations.

According to him, the company has combined physical surveillance with intelligence-driven operations to protect critical oil infrastructure across numerous communities.

“They have done very well and improved security since they began operations,” he said, adding that the company’s activities now extend across many communities in the region.

Akpemegi said the company’s presence has benefited both traditional institutions and local residents and urged the Federal Government to sustain its support.

In the same vein, the Odiologbo of Ofagbe Kingdom, Ogaga Ikpoku, described the National Assembly’s decision as timely, saying it would further promote peace, stability and development in the Niger Delta.

Beyond improved oil production and revenue generation, stakeholders say sustained asset protection has also produced significant environmental and social benefits.

For years, illegal refining, pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft polluted rivers, destroyed farmlands and exposed communities across the Niger Delta to environmental degradation and insecurity.

However, they argue that sustained surveillance operations have led to the dismantling of illegal refining camps, prevented repeated pipeline breaches and created conditions for gradual ecological recovery.

ENDS