Why Tompolo's Tantita Security Services Ltd deserves Vanguard's Crude Oil Infrastructure Security Award, 2023

It is longer news that awards are not just given to individuals or organizations but based on  contributions of such to humanity. Again, those who give awards must also have some level of reputation. Thus, awards are given to people who have excelled in education, business, technology and all that.

Recently, Vanguard Newspapers, a  reputable medium organization gave awards to Nigerians and organizations that distinguished themselves in various fields of endeavours. The much cherished award is known as: "Vanguard  Personality of the Year Award, 2023".

While one is not here to catalogue personalities and organizations that received the award, one can not do without the mention of High Chief Dr. Government Ekpomupolo aka Tompolo's Organization - Tantita  Security Services Ltd which was honoured with "Vanguard's Crude Oil Infrastructure Security Award of the year, 2023".

Although the event which took place on Friday, 24th May, 2024 at  Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos has come and gone, the memory lingers on.

For those who may not be aware, it is on record that Tantita Security Services Ltd has not only done good  to the Federal Government, but the nation as a whole.

Before the establishment of Tantita Security Services Ltd and its subsequent award of the contract of surveillance of Crude Oil Infrastructure, the rate of crude oil theft was high, the action which made the Federal Government lose its greater part of revenue. Between  2019 and 2020, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative's (NEITI) reports indicated losses of 42.248 million barrels ($2.772 billion) in 2019 and 53.056 million barrels ($2.21 billion) in 2020. It was against this background that the former President of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari was compelled to award the Federal Government  pipeline security contract to Tantita Security Services Ltd. And of course, this move has yielded positive results as Nigeria's average rig count, an index measuring activities in the upstream sector rose on yearly basis by 62% to 15% between June and October 2023, as was compared to 9% which was recorded in the corresponding period of 2022.

In the same vein, as a result of the performance of the Tantita Security Services Ltd in the fight  against crude oil  theft, President  Bola  Tinubu, on his  assumption of  office, was also encouraged to renew the contract which has  given room for Tantita Security Services to continue with its good work.

No wonder, after the award was given to Tompolo on that day, in  an  interview with the  Media Consultant to Tompolo, Dr. Paul Bebenimibo  said:"We are elacted  and  it is a call to service, we are poised to do our best to sanitize the crude oil industry. In fact, our message has always been that illegal bunkering and those involved in such activities to keep clear".

No doubt, Tantita Security Services has done a lot to safeguard the oil infrastructure, so, if Vanguard gave such an award, it is not out of  place because, it merits it. No wonder, the former President of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju pinnick said:" Every Niger Deltans is very proud of what Tantita is doing basically.  Its coming into the security industry has helped to secure Nigeria's oil installations. It has been a game changer and the Federal Government and everybody acknowledged that".

The eulogy of Amaju Pinnick, no doubt, testified the hard work  of Tantita Security Services Ltd in securing the crude oil infrastructure.

As if that was not enough, the former Governor of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke said:" Tompolo's organization- Tantita Security Services Ltd job of protecting the nation's oil against theft has greatly increased oil production in the country which invariably has increased Federal government's revenue".

It is observed that despite the above encomium  from Nigerian notable personalities on  Tantita's performance,  some people who seemingly don't want the good of Nigeria still wag  their tongues  against the security outfit. 

They  fail to realize that if they were given the job, they could not have  done better than Tantita. It is on record that since Tantita started operation, many communities across Nigeria in general and Niger Delta in particular have and still benefiting from  the company. For avoidance of doubt, many elders, women and youths have benefited in one way or the other. For instance, many youths across the Niger Delta and indeed Nigeria have been employed. This was testified by Itsekiri Tantita  Security workers.When it was rumoured that Tantita came to take job from Itsekiri and Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse Ill, Itsekiri Tantita Security workers  came on air to set the record straight over this. The Co-ordinator that covers OML 34, Warri River NNPC Pipelines  and Trans-Forcados Pipeline both in Iffiekporo and Ugbodede Communities in Warri South-West Local Government Area said:" High Chief Dr Government Ekpomupolo aka Tompolo and Tantita Security Services are neither out to fight Itsekiri Kingdom nor Olu of Warri but help the people in respective of ethnic nationalities... since Tantita Security Services Ltd came on board in Ugbodede  and its environs, we have over fifty slots of Tantita Security work: we have youths, women, and elders who are beneficiaries of the work... Today, l can beat my chest that Tantita has really done good in our lives".

While one is not here to catalogue those the company has helped financially, it is note worthy that  many communities have continued to benefit till date. It  is therefore  a call on Nigerians to support Tantita in order to secure the nation's oil to generate more  revenue to the Federal Government to  raise the standard of living of Nigerians in one hand and for those employed and other beneficiaries to continue to enjoy  this rare privilege on the other,  in this regard. Nigeria belongs to all, the more all and sundry work together to support Tantita Security Services, the better for all.