A group, Niger Delta Development Agenda, yesterday said stakeholders in the region will resist moves to change the security system in place to protect oil pipelines.
The group also objected to the move by an ex-agitator from Ondo State to scuttle the renewed surveillance contract to Tantita, despite its accomplishments in surveillance and security on land and sea.
The group stated this while expressing satisfaction with the oil pipeline surveillance and protection by Tantita Security Services Limited in the region.
Decrying the ulterior motive behind the cancellation of Tantita’s contract, the group said Tantita succeeded in thwarting the stealing of crude oil by an international oil cartel in the Ondo creeks.
The group, in a statement by its chairman, Chief Ezekiel Ugedi; secretary, Efemena Ejomafuvwe; and publicity secretary, Orighomisan Ezekiel; said Tantita has succeeded where the ex-Ondo agitator failed.
According to the statement, Tantita is tryinng to spread the sanity to Bayelsa and Rivers, hence, the uproar from the collaborating abettors, who mouth directives from their sponsors.
It added: “Tantita destruction of illegal crude refining camps that dotted the landscape of Rivers State, is responsible for the clearance of the smug from atmosphere in the state.
“Almost all communities were involved in the illegal crude business. They were financed by the big oil thieves. Hence, it was easy for culprits to evade arrest.
“The oil thieves also enjoyed the support of a handful of law enforcement agents, they gave them protection and never brought them to book.
“The same oil cartels also tried to use host communities by sponsoring protest on their behalf as it was in the case in Koko, Delta State.
“Some renegades in Koko community recently took to the streets in support of the nefarious activities of a notorious local oil baron operating in the community.
“The cartel offered large sums of money to the community to agitate and fight dirty, on their behalf.
“The cacophonous noise coming from Bayelsa and Rivers is a ruse to divert attention from the illegal refineries that still operate in parts of both states.
They want Tantita operation restrained from those states.”
The group said Tantita will completely clean the Aegean stables in those states, adding that sanity has to be restored to increase crude production and boost the nation’s oil revenue, so that government can finance infrastructures and meet her commitment to the people
The group said:”In the course of its activities, Tantita unmasked the identity of most operators responsible for crude theft and offered them an olive branches to refrain from the illegality, but they remain recalcitrant and are bent on continuing.
“This is because when it comes to doing something legal, the profit is not as good as that of the illegal business.
“There is no surveillance contract that would be given to them, that is going to make them to stop the theft and pipelines vandalization. Even if given, they will collect the contract and still continue the illegal business.
“They cannot be pacified, the benefits from the international syndicates outweigh what the Nigerian government can offer.
“At every moment, big ships and ocean-liners are anchored and positioned in the Atlantic Ocean awaiting supplies from them.
“These national saboteurs are not in the least ready for any cooperation with the Federal Government. They are too neck deep in illicit profiteering to care about national interest.
To kill a dangerous serpent, its head must be dealt a blow to paralyze it.
“ The next phase of Tantita Security Services Limited is to interdict, intercept and apprehend the culprits in their illegal activities.”
