The Media Consultant to Tantita Nigeria Limited, Dr. Paul Bebenimibo, has identified the media as partners in Tantita’s security project, and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to protecting oil pipelines and other critical infrastructure in the Niger Delta, while sustaining increase in Nigeria’s crude oil production, thereby increasing crude oil revenue and providing jobs for teaming the youths in Niger Delta region.
This he stated while speaking in sidelines during an award ceremony organized by Blueprint Newspapers in recognition of Tantita’s contributions to pipeline security and national development.
Bebenimibo, who doubles as the Special Adviser to Tantita Chairman, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, noted that the award was another indication that Tantita’s intervention in the Niger Delta is producing tangible and measurable results, particularly noting the role of the media in communicating the company’s sustained fight against oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other forms of illegal activities threatening the nation’s oil industry.
He stated that the importance of the media as partners in oil pipeline protection and the fight against vandalism cannot be overemphasized, noting that Tantita and the media have been working hand-in-hand to ensuring proper communication of the company’s activities and supporting transparency around its operations.
As part of their social responsibilities to the Media, Bebenimibo confirmed that Tantita had built a correspondents’ secretariat in Delta State and was planning to extend similar structures to other states in the Niger Delta as well as establish a facility for journalists at the national level, which is part of the company’s commitment to strengthening its relationship with the media and ensuring that its activities and contributions to national development were properly communicated to Nigerians.
According to him, Tantita assumed a major role in pipeline surveillance and protection in 2022, and since then the sharp practices of illegal operators have been squarely matched with the technological innovation of Tantita using drones for surveillance of creek terrains, making it difficult for criminals to withstand the company’s surveillance efforts.
Speaking further, Bebenimibo noted that Tantita has complemented the kinetic approach of surveillance with social investment approach like the creation of over 60,000 employment opportunities for Niger Delta youths, skills acquisition, grants and empowerments for young people and women of host communities as strategies to tackling insecurity and discouraging young people from engaging in oil theft, bunkering and other criminal activities. He added that improved security around oil-producing communities had also created an environment where legitimate economic activities, including fishing and farming, were gradually returning.
He expressed confidence that sustained collaboration among security agencies, oil companies, host communities, the media and private security contractors would further strengthen the protection of Nigeria’s oil infrastructure and boost national revenue.
