Protesters storm N’Assembly, demand stronger pipeline security amid oil theft debate
Dozens of protesters stormed the National Assembly on Wednesday, as lawmakers ramped up discussions on crude oil theft and pipeline protection in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta.
Dozens of protesters stormed the National Assembly on Wednesday, as lawmakers ramped up discussions on crude oil theft and pipeline protection in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta.
Operating under the Coalition of Civil Society for Economic Protection, the demonstrators marched to the legislative complex, chanting solidarity songs and holding placards with messages such as “Oil Thieves Are Conspiring Against Tantita” and “Say No to Oil Bunkering.”
However, security operatives, including officers of the Nigeria Police Force and other agencies, stopped them from gaining access to the premises.
The protest comes amid growing legislative concern over oil theft, a persistent problem that has continued to cut into Nigeria’s crude oil output, drain public revenue, and fuel insecurity in host communities.
As part of efforts to tackle the issue, the Joint Senate and House Committees on Petroleum Resources are scheduled to hold a parliamentary roundtable later today on pipeline security and the fight against crude oil theft.
Key figures expected at the session include Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Ikenga Ugochinyere; Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu; Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; and Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Ajayi.
Others billed to attend are Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Senator Eteng Williams; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa (retd.); Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed; and Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Limited, Kestin Pondi, among others.
Speaking during the protest, the convener of the group, Tesleem Kolawole, urged lawmakers to remain firm on pipeline security and the future of the Niger Delta.
He said, “We call on the lawmakers to sincerely and holistically look at the journey of Tantita from when they started securing the country to date, without fear or favour. They should examine the modus operandi of the contract and its primary aim to determine whether it has been successful or not.
“The conversation around pipeline surveillance must be guided by results, because when national assets are secured, the economy benefits, communities stabilise, and young people gain real opportunities.
“In that regard, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited has become a visible part of a broader national effort that has helped restore confidence in pipeline security and crude oil production.”
Kolawole further noted that Nigeria’s oil production has rebounded significantly, reaching about 1.8 million barrels per day in November 2024, based on available data.
According to him, this represents a sharp improvement from earlier lows of around 500,000 barrels per day before Tantita Security Services was engaged in 2022, when widespread vandalism and criminal activities severely affected output.
“So our message here today is simple. This is not the time to weaken a framework that has helped restore production, support youth enterprise, improve education, and create alternatives to criminality.
“This is the time to strengthen accountability, improve coordination, and protect what is working. When a programme produces measurable gains in oil security, education, skills, agriculture, and youth engagement, the responsible thing is not disruption; it is consolidation.
“Therefore, we call for continuity, transparency, and support for every initiative that secures national assets while also lifting people. Tantita’s record, as publicly reported, shows that security and development can work together. That is the standard we should protect for Nigeria’s future,” he added.
Crude oil theft remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing economic challenges, with successive governments deploying a mix of military operations and private surveillance contracts to curb pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering.
The outcome of the ongoing parliamentary engagement is expected to shape future policy direction on safeguarding the country’s oil infrastructure.
