By Mayor Eshanekpe Israel

For decades, the Federal Government of Nigeria grappled with a persistent and deeply entrenched crisis in the oil-rich Niger Delta: the rampant sabotage of oil pipelines, large-scale oil theft, illegal bunkering, and widespread environmental degradation. Billions of dollars were siphoned away annually, draining government revenues, discouraging foreign investment, and damaging critical national infrastructure. Despite numerous military operations, task forces, and law enforcement interventions, the menace of oil theft only seemed to deepen—until 2022.

That year marked a critical turning point. In a move that would later prove transformational, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), under the leadership of Mele Kyari, awarded a major oil pipeline surveillance contract to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), a private security firm based in the Niger Delta. At the helm of this firm is High Chief Kestin Pondi, a seasoned engineer, entrepreneur, and community leader from the Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.

Pondi’s leadership and the community-rooted approach of TSSNL have since changed the narrative in Nigeria’s oil sector. Where there was once impunity and lawlessness, a new regime of order, security, and local cooperation has emerged. Today, Nigeria’s oil production has rebounded significantly, environmental hazards have decreased, and host communities are witnessing renewed economic activity. The fear of Tantita Security, as many say in the creeks of the Niger Delta, has become the beginning of wisdom for oil thieves.

TSSNL is not a newcomer. Contrary to popular belief that the company was formed solely to win the 2022 surveillance contract, the firm was established in 2005 by Chief Pondi as part of a broader vision to address both security and socio-economic challenges in the Niger Delta. Pondi, who also owns Kalm Marine & Petroleum Services Ltd, has been involved in the oil and gas sector for nearly two decades. In 2022, his company received an Oil Prospecting License (OPL) for the Ogbanabou Field (PPL213), and within two years, he successfully completed his first oil well—an achievement that reflects his resilience, technical competence, and understanding of the complex operating environment in the Delta.

But it is his work with TSSNL that has placed him at the centre of national attention. With a strategic blend of engineering know-how, grassroots intelligence, and community-based operations, Pondi restructured TSSNL into an effective oil facility protection outfit. What sets the company apart is its deep integration with local communities. Rather than relying solely on conventional armed security, TSSNL built a surveillance model rooted in community trust, youth engagement, and shared responsibility. This has created a formidable network of informants, scouts, and response teams that monitor oil infrastructure round-the-clock, often heading off illegal operations before they begin.

This approach quickly began yielding results. In January 2024, acting on actionable intelligence, Tantita operatives intercepted the vessel MT Kali as it was siphoning crude oil from the Pennington Oil Field operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Bayelsa State. The operation, carried out in conjunction with the Nigeria Police, led to the arrest of 20 crew members, including local accomplices. The stolen crude and the vessel were seized, and a Federal High Court later ordered the forfeiture of the vessel to the federal government, along with the sale of its illicit cargo by NNPCL

Not long after, another vessel, the MT Harbour Spirit—a Moldovan-flagged ship—was apprehended while attempting to steal crude oil from the Sengana Oilfields These high-profile arrests and successful prosecutions not only sent a strong signal to international criminal networks but also demonstrated that with the right leadership and structure, private firms like Tantita can outperform traditional security models.

Yet, Pondi’s vision for security goes beyond arrests and seizures. He understands the interconnectedness of security, economy, and social well-being in the Niger Delta. TSSNL has invested heavily in job creation, education support, and agricultural development as a way to reduce the allure of criminality. In particular, the company has launched a large-scale rice farming initiative to combat food insecurity and provide alternative livelihoods for young people disenchanted by the environmental impacts of oil exploration, which have rendered traditional farming less viable.

The results of these interventions are already visible. Local economies are being revitalized. Former militants and oil thieves are now employed in legitimate roles as pipeline monitors, boat captains, security operatives, and farm workers. Crime rates have decreased in communities under TSSNL’s coverage. Market women, artisans, and traders report improved business activities, thanks to the relative peace and increased cash flow in the region.

Another area where TSSNL has made a significant impact is environmental preservation. Before Tantita’s involvement, illegal refineries operated with impunity, releasing noxious fumes into the air and spilling oil into creeks and farmlands. Today, such activities have been greatly curtailed. Surveillance teams work closely with government agencies to detect and dismantle illegal refining sites, while marine operatives prevent vessels from dumping hazardous substances into the waterways. The result is cleaner rivers, healthier communities, and a visible reversal in the environmental damage long associated with oil theft.

At the institutional level, Tantita has contributed to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture. Through its infrastructure support projects, the company has rehabilitated the Ugborikoko Police Division and built a modern Army Transit Camp in Effurun, Warri. These facilities not only bolster state security capacity but also reflect Pondi’s belief in partnership between public institutions and private actors in addressing national challenges.

Despite these gains, TSSNL’s emergence was not without controversy. Critics questioned why the federal government would entrust national assets to a private company, especially one associated with former militant leaders like Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, who is a key figure behind the firm. But the skepticism has been steadily eroded by results. What sceptics dismissed as a political concession is now viewed as a pragmatic solution—one that is yielding dividends at a time Nigeria can ill afford to lose revenue.

Mayor of Urhoboland, Eshanekpe Israel Akpodoro, myself, a former militant leader, critical stakeholder in the TSSNL surveillance contract execution and a key advocate for peace in the Niger Delta, praise TSSNL’s role in stabilizing the region. Chief Pondi’s leadership has not only boosted national oil output but also redefined how security contracts can be executed. “We have never seen this level of dedication, honesty, and community engagement. TSSNL is not just a security company; it is a development partner,” he said.

Emphatic importance of scaling up TSSNL’s operations should also be considered by the FG. The federal government must not stop here. It should expand Tantita’s surveillance coverage and increase funding. The work being done is saving this country billions.

Indeed, the data supports this call. Nigeria’s crude oil production, which hovered around 900,000 barrels per day before the Tantita contract, has steadily risen to over 1.8 million barrels per day, with projections of hitting 2 million soon. This increase has positively affected national earnings, bolstered investor confidence, and improved the country’s position within OPEC.

It is this blend of operational success, local empowerment, and developmental consciousness that makes Tantita Security under Pondi a model worth studying. In a country often plagued by tales of failed contracts, underperformance, and squandered opportunities, the story of TSSNL offers a refreshing counter-narrative. It shows what can happen when the right people are given the right responsibility—and held to the right standards.

As Nigeria continues to battle other forms of insecurity, from banditry in the northwest to insurgency in the northeast, the Tantita model offers key lessons: the value of local intelligence, the importance of community ownership, and the critical role of competent leadership. The Niger Delta’s experience proves that security is not merely about guns and uniforms—it is about trust, legitimacy, and partnership.

In the creeks of the Niger Delta, a new order is taking shape. Oil thieves who once operated with boldness now think twice. Communities that once felt abandoned now have a stake in protecting national resources. A private security firm, led by a quiet but determined leader, is demonstrating that patriotism, professionalism, and performance can go hand-in-hand.

For a nation seeking solutions to multiple crises, the achievements of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited under High Chief Kestin Pondi offer more than just hope—they offer a proven template for progress.