IYC Backs Tantita, Urges FG to Sustain Pipeline GainsThe Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide had called on the Federal Government to maintain the progress made in securing oil pipelines in the Niger Delta region.
The council also praised the performance of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited since it received the pipeline surveillance contract. IYC spokesman Binebai Princewill made the position known during a press conference in Warri on Friday 27 March, 2026.
The group urged the government under President Bola Tinubu to ignore what it called gimmicks and campaigns by those who do not support national interest.It described calls for the decentralisation of the current pipeline surveillance contract handled by Tantita as insincere and unpatriotic.
“Such demands aim to derail the gains already achieved and bring back instability,” the council said. The IYC stated clearly that critics of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, known as Tompolo, and Tantita do not speak for the Ijaw people or the wider Niger Delta region. It advised those pushing for decentralisation to focus on productive activities instead of making self-serving demands that harm national progress.
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Before Tantita’s involvement, crude oil theft, illegal refining, and pipeline sabotage caused serious damage to Nigeria’s economy. The IYC noted that the situation improved greatly after Tompolo and Tantita took up the surveillance role. Oil theft dropped significantly, production levels rose, and confidence in the security of oil and gas assets returned.
The council highlighted that Tantita’s approach remains inclusive. It employs thousands of people across different ethnic groups, communities, and states in the Niger Delta. This has helped reduce youth restiveness and promoted peace in the area. The IYC stressed that Tantita’s experience, capacity, and local intelligence network make it difficult to replace.
It warned that any sudden change in the arrangement could cause setbacks. The council added that Tantita also supports peace-building and economic empowerment beyond pipeline protection. It passed a vote of confidence on Tantita and its leadership. The IYC called on President Tinubu and the Federal Government to protect the existing framework and resist any pressure that could reverse the current gains.
