.... As The People Have Spoken ; "Our Territory, Our Responsibility" Tantita Security Services Should Stay Away From Our Communities.

Hundreds of stakeholders, youths, women, and community leaders from Ilaje and Ese-Odo Federal Constituency in Ondo State have called on the Federal Government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to decentralise the pipeline surveillance contract across all Niger Delta states. 

They argued that surveillance responsibilities should be fairly distributed among qualified indigenous and state-based organisations instead of being concentrated under a single operator in the entire Niger Delta region 

The call was made during a peaceful protest in Awoye Community, Ilaje Local Government Area, where participants arrived in boats carrying placards with messages including "Decentralise Pipeline Surveillance Contract Now," "Respect Host Communities," and "Tantita Leave Our Territory." 

According to the protesters, the demand reflects the position of the people that Tantita Security Services should stay away from their territories.

The protesters maintained that host communities possess deep knowledge of their environment and are best positioned to safeguard oil and gas infrastructure within their areas. 

They urged President Tinubu to review the current pipeline surveillance framework and adopt a decentralised system that accommodates every oil-producing state in the Niger Delta.

Women leaders at the protest said host communities have long contributed to the protection of national assets and should no longer be excluded from opportunities tied to pipeline surveillance. They advocated for an inclusive arrangement that empowers locals while creating jobs and improving community participation.

Community leaders also criticised what they described as the monopoly of pipeline surveillance operations, insisting that decentralisation would promote transparency, fairness, accountability, and stronger collaboration between host communities, security agencies, and state based licensed contractors across the region.

The protesters further argued that decentralising the contract on a state-by-state basis across the Niger Delta would enhance surveillance coverage, reduce crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, create employment for local youths, and strengthen the protection of Nigeria's oil and gas infrastructure through community ownership.

The peaceful demonstration concluded with a renewed appeal to the Federal Government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to decentralise the pipeline surveillance contract across all Niger Delta states and ensure every host community has the opportunity to participate. 

The protesters reiterated that, in line with the views expressed during the protest, Tantita Security Services should stay away from their territories.