CMA Backs Tantita, Writes Open Letter to Tinubu For Renewal, Expansion of Scope

By Joseph Bienbo, Warri

The Common Men Assembly (CMA), a coalition of professionals with expertise in oil and gas, security, and economics, has submitted a position statement to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to maintain the current pipeline security framework driven by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.

In a detailed press statement, CMA Chairman Chief Jude Angodideke and others emphasised that the current system, despite its imperfections, has delivered measurable stability and economic improvement in the Niger Delta region. The assembly warned that altering the framework could lead to a return of large-scale oil theft, renewed community conflicts, and economic instability.

CMA highlighted that before the introduction of the current surveillance framework in August 2022, Nigeria’s oil sector was plagued by severe losses, with crude oil production dropping to 1.0-1.2 million barrels per day, far below the OPEC quota of 1.8 million barrels per day. The country lost an estimated 400,000-700,000 barrels per day to crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, translating to billions of dollars in annual revenue losses.

Read full open letter

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE COMMON MEN ASSEMBLY (CMA)

TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON PIPELINE SECURITY, NATIONAL STABILITY, AND THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF TANTITA

The Common Men Assembly (CMA) is a coalition of seasoned professionals drawn from diverse strategic sectors, including oil and gas engineering, pipeline integrity management, energy economics, maritime security operations, environmental risk assessment, and community conflict resolution within extractive regions.
Our membership includes experts with direct field experience in pipeline surveillance systems, asset protection architecture, crude oil logistics, and the socio-economic dynamics of host communities in the Niger Delta.
This position therefore reflects not merely a civic viewpoint, but a multidisciplinary technical assessment grounded in field realities, operational data, and national economic priorities.

Your Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
The Common Men Assembly (CMA), humbly addresses Your Excellency with a position informed by expanded technical evaluation, economic assessment, and extensive field observation regarding Nigeria’s oil infrastructure protection system, with particular reference to the operational model currently driven by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.
This submission is not driven by sentiment or narrow advocacy. It is grounded in verifiable field outcomes, practical security realities, and the overriding need to protect Nigeria’s economic backbone.

PRE-TANTITA ERA: A PERIOD OF SYSTEMIC LOSS AND ECONOMIC STRAIN

Before the introduction of the current surveillance framework in August 2022, Nigeria’s oil sector was operating under severe distress.
Available industry data indicates that:
National crude oil production dropped to as low as 1.0 to 1.2 million barrels per day, far below Nigeria’s OPEC quota of about 1.8 million barrels per day
The country was losing an estimated 400,000 to 700,000 barrels per day to crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism
This translated to billions of dollars in annual revenue losses, severely impacting federal allocations and state finances
Nigeria, at a point, lost its position as Africa’s leading oil producer
In the creeks and waterways of the Niger Delta, illegal bunkering became deeply entrenched:
Hundreds of illegal refining sites operated openly
Crude evacuation through illegal barges and vessels became routine
Pipeline breaches were frequent and often left unattended for extended periods
The economic consequences were immediate and far-reaching:
Sharp decline in foreign exchange earnings
Increased fiscal pressure on government budgets
Rising debt exposure to cover revenue shortfalls
Reduced investor confidence in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector
This period was not just a security failure, it was an economic emergency.

POST-TANTITA INTERVENTION: RESTORATION OF CONTROL AND CONFIDENCE

Following the engagement of Tantita Security Services, the trajectory began to change in measurable terms.
Within months of coordinated operations:
Oil production rebounded toward 1.5 to 1.7 million barrels per day
Reported crude oil theft volumes dropped significantly
Thousands of illegal refining sites were identified and dismantled
Surveillance presence across creeks and offshore corridors became more consistent and effective
Beyond raw numbers, the psychological shift was equally important:
Criminal networks lost operational confidence
Communities began aligning with lawful economic structures
Stakeholders regained trust in the system’s ability to function
The result has been:
Improved national revenue performance
Greater stability in budget projections
Renewed interest from investors and international partners
This transition from loss to recovery did not occur by coincidence, it reflects the impact of a coordinated and locally integrated security architecture.

TANTITA: A SECURITY FRAMEWORK THAT EVOLVED INTO A STABILISING SYSTEM

Under the leadership of High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo and Engr. Kestin Ebimorbowei Pondi, the operational structure of Tantita has grown beyond the scope of a conventional contractor into a coordinated stabilisation mechanism within the Niger Delta.
What distinguishes this system is the rare fusion of disciplined command structure, local intelligence integration, and community-level acceptance.
From a technical standpoint, this has been driven by:
A clearly defined and enforceable command hierarchy
Continuous intelligence flow sourced directly from host communities
Rapid intervention capabilities across land and maritime environments
Deep operational familiarity with difficult terrain
Structured inclusion of previously disruptive elements into formal surveillance architecture
One of the most impactful dimensions of this model is its employment structure. The system has created over 20,000 direct opportunities, alongside a broader indirect engagement network, effectively converting thousands of previously vulnerable youths into active stakeholders in national asset protection.

MEASURABLE IMPACT ON NATIONAL OUTPUT AND SECTOR CONFIDENCE

Since implementation, observable outcomes include:

1: Recovery of crude oil production toward stable levels 2: Decline in pipeline vandalism across major corridors 3: Disruption of organised crude oil theft operations 4: Reduction in illegal maritime evacuation activities
These gains translate into:
Increased government revenue
Improved fiscal stability
Strengthened investor confidence

COMMUNITY-INTEGRATED SECURITY MODEL
The current framework has established a community-linked security system through:
Large-scale youth engagement
Reintegration of former illegal operators
Direct collaboration with community leadership structures
Shared ownership of national assets
This has reduced hostility and improved cooperation across the region.

MULTI-DIMENSIONAL IMPACT BEYOND SECURITY

Economic Inclusion
Job creation at scale
Growth of local enterprise participation
Reduction in crime incentives
Environmental Protection
Shutdown of illegal refining operations
Reduction in oil spill incidents
Protection of ecosystems

Conflict Reduction
Mediation across communities
Reduced tensions over resource control
Improved trust between citizens and authorities
Security Collaboration
Intelligence sharing
Monitoring of critical corridors
Prevention of organised theft

PIPELINE SECURITY AS A CORE ECONOMIC PRIORITY
Pipeline security must be treated as a central economic variable.
Disruptions lead to:
Revenue losses
Reduced production capacity
Higher operational costs
Damage to international credibility
Security decisions in this sector are, in effect, economic policy decisions.

SYSTEMIC RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH DECENTRALISATION
A fragmented system is likely to:
Intensify community disputes
Weaken coordination
Increase internal conflicts
Expose infrastructure to sabotage
Such conditions historically enabled oil theft networks to flourish.

ADVISORY TO THE PRESIDENT
We respectfully advise:
Resist pressure driven by sectional interests
Prioritise evidence-based decision-making
Strengthen systems delivering measurable results
Maintain structured institutional oversight

STRATEGIC CAUTION
Altering the current structure may result in:
Return of large-scale oil theft
Renewed community conflicts
Decline in production
Economic instability And
Environmental degradation

FINAL WORD
The current system has delivered measurable stability and economic improvement.
Nigeria must not abandon a working model. Nigeria must protect proven results. Nigeria must prioritise national interest over competing pressures.

Signed:
Chief Jude Angodideke Chairman, Common Men Assembly (CMA)

Mr. Miepekumo Brialade Secretary General, Common Men Assembly (CMA)

Engr. Duopayoebiyo Akemotubo Spokesman/PRO (CMA)