Decentralisation Debate Misplaced, Tantita Already Community-Driven – Pondi

Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Chief Kestin Pondi, has dismissed calls for the decentralisation of pipeline surveillance contracts, insisting that the company’s operational structure is already decentralised and inclusive of host communities.
Speaking at a Joint Petroleum Parliamentary Roundtable at the National Assembly, Pondi explained that Tantita’s model integrates local participation across oil-producing areas, a strategy he said has significantly contributed to Nigeria’s gradual recovery in crude oil output.
According to him, the current framework has boosted production from a low of about 1.1 million barrels per day in 2022 to approximately 1.4 million barrels per day, attributing the improvement to enhanced security coordination and grassroots involvement.
He warned that breaking up the contract into smaller units could reverse the gains achieved, stressing that a fragmented approach would weaken efficiency and push the sector backwards.
“We do not protect assets from the people; we protect them with the people,” Pondi stated, highlighting the importance of engaging locals who understand the terrain.
Reflecting on the trajectory of oil production, he noted that Nigeria’s output had declined from 1.8 million barrels per day in 2020 to 1.6 million in 2021 before hitting its lowest point in 2022, adding that the turnaround underscores the effectiveness of a unified but inclusive security system.
Pondi also acknowledged the sacrifices made in the line of duty, revealing that personnel of Tantita, alongside operatives of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Police, and Civil Defence, have lost their lives while protecting critical national assets.
Despite the progress recorded, he maintained that Nigeria can achieve even higher production levels with increased investment and improved operational strategies.
He further disclosed that the company has continued to invest in technology and manpower while expanding community engagement, noting that inclusive participation remains key to sustaining the gains.
“The success we have recorded is rooted in collaboration. Any attempt to fragment this structure will only undermine the progress made,” he cautioned.
The roundtable brought together lawmakers, industry players, and security stakeholders to explore strategies for strengthening oil infrastructure protection and boosting national production.