Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, a private security company owned by High Chief (Dr.) Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, aka, Tompolo has received the Vanguard Crude Oil Infrastructure Security award of the year 2023.
The event held at the Convention Centre of Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos Friday night had celebrities, politicians, business moguls, and dignitaries in their numbers in attendance.
The Vanguard award ceremony honoured distinguished Nigerians who have excelled in their chosen endeavours.
Worried by Nigeria’s low output in oil and gas occasioned by vices of pipeline vandalism and oil theft, President Muhammadu Buhari awarded Pipeline Security Contract to Tompolo’s Tantita in 2022.
It is a public knowledge that between 2019 and 2020, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) reports indicated losses of 42.248 million barrels ($2.772 billion) in 2019 and 53.056 million barrels ($2.21billion) in 2020.
The efforts have paid off as Nigeria’s average rig count, an index of measuring activities in the upstream sector, rose year-on-year, YoY by 62 percent to 15 between June and October 2023. Compared to 9 recorded in the corresponding period of 2022.
Similarly, based on the performance of the company, President Bola Tinubu has also been encouraged to renew the contract, thus enabling Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited to continue its security operations in the oil-rich region.
Dr. Paul Bebenimibo, media consultant to Tantita who received the award on behalf of the company said that the award will spur the organisation into greater achievements.
Bebenimibo said that Tantita’s desire to attain 2million barrels per day has further been catalysed by the flurry of awards given the company in recognition of their work so far.
According to the media guru, “We are elated and its a call to service, we are poised to do our best to sanitizing the crude oil industry. Infact, our message has always been that illegal bunkerers and those that are involved in such activity should keep clear.
“They don’t have any place to hide and Tantita will come after them and make sure that our production gets to the pick and generate more money for the country.”
In a chat with PEBNEWS, former President of Nigerian Football Federation, Amaju Pinick reiterated the essence of recognising the achievements of Tompolo and the Tantita Security Services in bringing stability to the region.
According to him, ” Every Niger Deltan is very proud of what Tantita is doing basically. Its coming into the security industry, has helped to secure Nigeria’s oil installations. It has been a game changer and the Federal Government and everybody acknowledged that.”
Similarly, former Governor of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke in his remarks said, “Tompolo’s organization, Tantita Security Services Limited job of protecting the nation’s oil against theft has greatly increased oil production in the country which invariably, has increased Federal Government’s revenue.
“Anybody who can bring value to our society is commendable, okay? And I have spoken to some Old Executives, Shell and all that, and they appreciate his work. And I am told that production has gone up as a result of his work.”
Earlier in his welcome address, Vanguard Newspapers’ Editor, Eze Anaba said, the awardee’s contributions have not only advanced their field, but also inspired and uplifted those around them.