Community Partnership Driving Nigeria’s Oil Production Recovery, Tantita MD Tells Lawmakers
THE Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Chief Kestin Pondi, has said that Nigeria’s gradual rebound in crude oil production is the direct result of improved security coordination and stronger community participation in safeguarding vital oil and gas infrastructure.
Pondi made the remark on Tuesday while speaking at the Joint Petroleum Parliamentary Roundtable at the National Assembly. He commended the Senate Joint Committees for creating what he described as a crucial platform for addressing persistent challenges in the nation’s oil and gas sector.
He recalled that in 2022, when Tantita was first awarded the responsibility of securing key assets, Nigeria’s crude oil output had fallen to about 1.1 million barrels per day, including condensates. According to him, production has since risen to roughly 1.4 million barrels per day due to improved collaboration among security agencies, communities and industry stakeholders.
“We were given this responsibility at a very critical time, and we remain grateful to Mr. President for the opportunity. Without this platform, our capacity and what we can achieve would not have been fully appreciated,” he said.
Pondi emphasised that the company’s operations are anchored on community-driven security, noting that those who understand the terrain contribute significantly to field successes.
“At Tantita, we do not protect assets from the people; we protect the assets with the people,” he stated.
He further explained that Nigeria’s oil production had been on a steady decline—dropping from about 1.8 million barrels per day in 2020 to 1.6 million in 2021 before crashing in 2022. The recent improvement, he said, confirms the impact of an inclusive and coordinated security architecture.
The Tantita MD also spoke about the sacrifices made in the course of the assignment, revealing that personnel of Tantita, alongside officers of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Police, have lost their lives while defending the nation’s assets.
“We have lost soldiers, we have lost our personnel, and we have lost civil defence officers,” he said.
Despite the progress recorded, Pondi maintained that Nigeria can achieve even higher production levels if more investments are made and operational gaps closed.
“We can still do better. There are still barriers, and we need to invest more to fully achieve the President’s agenda of increased production,” he added.
He also disclosed that Tantita has invested heavily in technology and human capital development, while decentralising its operations to allow for broader community involvement.
Pondi warned against attempts to fragment the existing security structure, saying such moves could reverse the gains made in stabilising Nigeria’s oil production.
“Fragmentation of the process will only push us backwards, and that is something we must avoid,” he cautioned.
The roundtable featured lawmakers, industry operators and security officials, who deliberated on strategies to boost oil production and protect critical national assets. Tantita also provided technical insights into its field operations, challenges and long-term plans for sustaining recent gains.
