Urhobos affirm Tantita's operational excellence - UPLF

The Urhobo Progressives Leader Forum (UPLF) Worldwide has said that Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited has displayed uncommon excellence in its operations in Urhobo land just it ascribed the peace in Niger Delta to the company.

This was contained in a letter to the National Security Adviser signed by 
Cassidy Eni Christian, President General, UPLF, Enerho Godspower, President, UYC, Obakpororo Johnny, Vice President UPLF, Hon. Sylva Oghenevwede Obarume, Secretary, UPLF, and Julius Imoniokena, Member respectively.

The letter read, "As the umbrella body of all Urhobo Progressives in Nigeria and in the diaspora, we deem it necessary to write you this letter with strict adherence to the extant laws of the land and with an earnest desire to sustain the peace and stability enjoyed in the Niger Delta under the renewed hope administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

"As a counter claim to the UPU letter, we boldly state that Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited has a unanimous acceptance in Urhobo land and as such we urge you to discountenance the said letter which is only but actuated by malice. Permit us, sir to lay a legal foundation for our counterclaims in this letter. 

"We wish to refer you to the Petroleum Industry Act which clearly states that the property and ownership of petroleum within Nigeria and its territorial waters is 
vested in the government of the federation. 

"This unequivocal provision which 
occupies the entry position of the major statute governing the petroleum and gas sector in Nigeria has settled the question of ownership of petroleum products in 
Nigeria. 

"The Nigerian federal government through the instrumentality of the office of the petroleum minister possesses the managerial and administrative authority to formulate, monitor, execute and enforce policies in the nation’s oil and gas industry. 

"It is also the role of the federal Government to supervise the general affairs and operations of the petroleum industry in accordance, we also wish to refer you to the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010 which makes salient provisions in relation to the participation of indigenous companies in the nation’s oil and gas sector without prejudice to provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act. 

"The high points of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act are: All regulatory authorities, operators, contractors, subcontractors, alliance partners and other entities involved in any project, operation, activity or transaction in the Nigerian oil and gas industry shall consider Nigerian 
content as an important element of their overall project development and management philosophy for project execution. 

"Nigerian independent operators shall be given first consideration in the award of oil blocks, oil field licences, oil lifting licences and in all projects for which contract is to be awarded in the Nigerian oil and gas industry subject to the fulfilment of such conditions as may be specified by the Minister. 

"Sir, we wish to reiterate the fact that the exclusivity of consideration to Nigerian indigenous service companies is subject to proof and demonstration of ownership of equipment, Nigerian personnel and capacity to execute such works in the Nigerian oil and gas industry for contracts and services. 

"In fact, the Act categorically defines “Nigerian Content” as “the quantum of composite value added to or created in the Nigerian economy by a systematic development of capacity and capabilities through deliberate utilisation of Nigerian human, material resources and services in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

"The Act further defines a “Nigerian Company” as “a company formed and registered in Nigeria in accordance with the provisions of Companies and Allied Matters Act with not less than 51% equity shares by Nigerians.

"It is in line with the above, that the NNPC Limited awarded pipeline surveillance contracts to several Nigerian private companies of which Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited is just one. 

"Tantita, like any other Nigerian company, has the right not only to be awarded contracts in the oil and gas sector but also to carry out its lawful oil and gas surveillance services and operations anywhere in Nigeria. 

"Neither the Urhobo Progress Union nor any meddlesome interloper has the right to restrain Tantita from discharging its lawful duties during the subsistence of its contract with the NNPC Limited. 

"As major stakeholders who have a very mutual relationship with all the Urhobo Communities, we acknowledge the concerns of oil and gas host communities and 
we state it clearly that these concerns of host communities have been given robust solutions under chapter 3 of the Petroleum Industry Act. 

"It is rather ridiculous that some crisispreneurs in Urhobo nation who cannot question the non-formation of and/or the non-performance of the host communities trust fund in their territory are quick to churn out to reject a company that does not need their acceptance to carry out their contractual objectives. 

"We therefore urge you to use your good office to caution the said Urhobo Progress Union to retrace their steps from this vainglorious and ill-conceived drama scripted for them by notorious oil thieves and war profiteering cartel. 

"Just to set the records straight, we wish to clarify the true position in this matter. By the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is the Urhobo Progress Union is not the owner of the pipelines passing through Urhobo territory. 

"Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited was contracted by federal government through the NNPC Limited and not by the Urhobo Progress Union to provide security for its oil and gas assets. At no material time has Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited deprive the Urhobo Progress Union from bidding for pipeline surveillance jobs? 

"Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited is not an arm of the government at any level but it’s a privately owned company. Tantita Security Services never failed in its corporate social responsibilities. 

"Sir, we wish to emphasize the fact that the operational excellence of Tantita Security Services cannot be measured as it has always put into cognizance the involvement of indigenous experts as its coordinators and field workers. 

"There is no oil and gas impacted community in the entire Urhobo nation that Tantita cannot boast of employing sufficient employees. In fact, there is no employer of 
labour in the entire Urhobo nation that can match a quarter of Tantita’s employment record from the Urhobo ethnic nationality. 

"We are aware that the authors of that unguarded letter were hoodwinked into making that publication by some nefarious oil thieves whose illegal business has been put to a stop by Tantita’s uncompromising service delivery. 

"We therefore urge you not only to discountenance the claims in the said letter but hold the authors liable for any breach of peace, public disturbance and youth restiveness arising from the operational territories of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited. We are very grateful for your anticipated action in this subject." The letter added.