National Assembly Dismisses Calls for Decentralisation of Pipeline Surveillance Contracts

ABUJA – The joint committees of the National Assembly on petroleum resources have thrown out petitions demanding the decentralisation of pipeline surveillance contracts across oil-producing states.

The decision came on Wednesday during a high-stakes roundtable on pipeline security held in Abuja. Lawmakers adopted a motion moved by Hon. Prince Henry Odianosen Okojie, chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Midstream), stressing that fragmenting the contracts would weaken coordination and accountability.

Okojie warned that Nigeria’s economic security hinges on disciplined execution rather than dilution of a working system. “We must strengthen what works, not dilute it,” he declared.

His counterpart, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), said the petitions lacked merit. “There is no credible evidence to sustain any of the allegations. We invited the petitioners on several occasions, including to this roundtable, but they failed to appear. Accordingly, all complaints against Tantita are hereby dismissed,” he stated.

Sen. Agom Jarigbe, chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), backed the position, emphasising continuity. “Disrupting a system that is already delivering results would be counterproductive. Our responsibility is to ensure stability,” he said.

NaijaChoice News reports that the committees also passed a unanimous vote of confidence in Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and security agencies for their role in restoring oil production.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, represented by Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere, traced the contract’s origin to the fight against pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, and unrest in the Niger Delta. He recalled how the country once lost between 10 and 30 percent of its crude output to theft, draining billions in revenue and damaging Nigeria’s reputation as a reliable oil producer.

Abbas noted that illegal tapping points have been largely dismantled under the current framework. Oil receipts have improved significantly, with production rising from historic lows of about 900,000 barrels per day in 2022 to an average of 1.71 million barrels per day, peaking at 1.84 million barrels per day last year.

The initiative has also created thousands of jobs for Niger Delta youths, converting former agitators into active stakeholders in protecting national assets.

The Speaker called for enhanced oversight, targeted reforms, and stronger collaboration among the federal government, host communities, security agencies, and private operators to sustain gains.

The petitions, largely from some Niger Delta groups including the Coalition of Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities (CNDEN), had argued that the current centralised structure excludes local stakeholders and creates structural imbalances. CNDEN had petitioned the Senate in March, insisting decentralisation was not aimed at any specific firm but at fairer participation across the nine oil-producing states.

Companies currently handling aspects of the surveillance include Tantita Security Services, Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited, and Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL).

Lawmakers, however, maintained that any disruption at this stage would reverse hard-won progress in the sector, which remains the backbone of Nigeria’s economy. The roundtable underscored a clear message: stability and results must take precedence over unproven demands for change.