By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
WARRI— Forget the old ways of guarding pipelines with an iron fist. The Nigerian Army has travelled to Delta State to learn a new trick: guarding them with a friendly handshake.
A bigwig delegation from the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), Abuja, stormed the headquarters of Tantita Security Services in Effurun over the weekend.
They weren’t there for a patrol, but for a masterclass in how to secure the nation’s oil wealth by getting the community onside.
The visit was part of a strategic course focused on oil and gas security. Leading the army think-tank was Major General J.G.K. Myam (Rtd), who came face-to-face with Tantita’s top dogs, including Captain Warredi Enisuoh and Barr. Emmanuel Jakpa.
And the message from Tantita’s boss, High Chief Kestin Pondi, was crystal clear: “We don’t protect the pipelines from the people; we protect them with the people.”
Presented by Barr. Jakpa, the Managing Director’s keynote revealed a security model that sounds more like a community development project.
He explained how employing locals and cleaning up the environment has turned things around.
“The waters that were dead are now green. The fishermen are back in business,” he said.
It’s not just about good vibes, though. The army boys got a peek at Tantita’s high-tech toys, including the largest drone fleet in West Africa, a slick command app called TOCA, and body cams for operatives.
They even heard about a plan to plant rice and count trees to sell carbon credits—turning green policy into greenbacks for local lads.
The army delegation didn’t hold back the praise. They said Tantita’s name popped up everywhere they visited as the real deal when it comes to getting the job done.
The highlight? A guided tour of the futuristic Command and Control Centre, where they watched the high-tech surveillance system track illegal activity along the pipelines in real-time.
By the time Brigadier General A.A. Adekoya was giving the vote of thanks, the message had hit home: you can’t secure the creeks with soldiers alone.
You need the community, some cool tech, and a whole lot of trust. And right now, Tantita looks like the blueprint.
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