Niger Delta stakeholders, under the aegis of Niger Delta Safety Watch, NDSW, have urged President Bola Tinubu to undertake an immediate and comprehensive review of the pipeline surveillance contract.
The contract was awarded by the Federal Government to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, TSSNL, owned by Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
NDSW made the call in a letter addressed to the President, dated February 19, 2026, and signed by its spokesman, Chief Ebiowei Koro.
The stakeholders expressed concern over alleged production shortfalls which they said had led to national revenue losses.
The letter highlighted recent production figures from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, and the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, which showed Nigeria’s crude oil output in January 2026 averaging approximately 1.46 million barrels per day (1.459 million barrels per day excluding condensate per OPEC data).
According to that stakeholders, the level remained below the OPEC quota of 1.5 million barrels per day and far short of the Federal Government’s 2026 budget benchmark of 1.84 million barrels per day.
They further noted that production has fallen below the OPEC quota in multiple months, including January 2026, contributing to cumulative shortfalls of an estimated 18.12 million barrels between January 2025 and January 2026.
The shortfalls, according to the Niger Delta stakeholders, have led to loss of revenue running into billions of dollars
“The persistent shortfalls indicate that the expected level of pipeline protection has not been achieved,” Niger Delta Safety Watch said.
The stakeholders criticised Tantitia for repeatedly shifting blame to the Nigerian Armed Forces whenever surveillance outcomes fall short, describing the action as “shameless scapegoating” which undermines the safety of military personnel who risk their lives daily to protect national assets.
“Instead of accepting responsibility for persistent production shortfalls and pipeline vulnerabilities under his watch, he points accusing fingers at the military, claiming obstruction or even complicity in bunkering.