The apex bodies of the Urhobo people in Delta State and Nigeria have rejected the continued use of Tantita Security Services as the contractor handling the pipeline surveillance contract in their territory.
They are demanding a qualified indigenous security outfit to manage surveillance of oil facilities in their land.
In a letter signed on their behalf by the President General of the Urhobo Progress Union, Olorogun Ese Gam, SAN, and Secretary General, Mr. David Esiekpe, along with the President of the UPU Youth Wing Worldwide, Activist Blessed Ughere, and Secretary, Egheniji Oghenegueke, as well as the President of the Urhobo Youth Leaders Association, Olorogun Samuel Oghotomo, and Secretary, Olorogun Dr. Augustine Atiti, the Urhobo people stated that despite being a major producer of oil and gas, they are the most marginalized in the oil sector, both in administrative positions and in contract awards.
They reiterated their resolution made at the General Assembly Conference of the Urhobo people of the Niger Delta, particularly in Delta State, to reject the ongoing operations of Tantita Security Services in providing security for oil facilities in their domain.
To this end, they demand that the oil facilities surveillance contract in Urhobo land be awarded to a qualified indigenous security outfit of Urhobo nationality.
The explained in the letters addressed to various concerned offices that Urhobo is located in the western part of the Niger Delta, south of latitude 6ºN. It covers a contiguous area of about five hundred (500) square kilometers in the southern part of Delta State, comprising twenty-four (24) kingdoms and approximately four hundred and fifty-five (455) communities, with a population of around 7.5 million people.
According to the letters, “The Urhobo ethnic nationality is the third largest oil producer in Nigeria and the highest producer of gas in Africa, hosting OML 26, OML 28, OML 30, OML 34, OML 62, OML 65, and the Otorogun Gas Plant.
“Despite their significant contributions to the oil and gas sector, the Urhobo people are the most marginalized in terms of administrative positions and contract awards.
“The Petroleum Industry Act of 2021 empowers host communities to secure oil and gas facilities and imposes penalties on them for acts of vandalism, sabotage, or civil unrest that disrupt production or damage facilities.
“The Act states that host communities will forfeit entitlements to repair costs resulting from such activities, provided interruptions are not caused by technical or national issues.
“Given these circumstances, it is imperative for the Urhobo people to take responsibility for safeguarding oil and gas facilities in their territory.
“Enhanced security will lead to increased production and development in their communities, as stipulated by the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021.
“They cannot allow outsiders whose sole interests lie in immediate profits to operate without accountability at the expense of Urhobo host communities.
During their separate General Assembly Conferences, the UPU Youth Wing Worldwide and the Urhobo Youth Leaders Association also resolved to reject the continued operations of Tantita Security Services and demand that the oil facilities surveillance contract in Urhobo land be awarded to a qualified indigenous security contractor of Urhobo nationality.