Ijaw Youth Council Warns Against Disrupting Tantita’s Operations; Says ‘Measurable Success’ in Oil Production is Non-Negotiable

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has drawn a line in the sand regarding the security of Nigeria’s oil infrastructure, warning that any attempt to undermine the current surveillance framework could collapse the nation’s economic recovery. The council reaffirmed its total support for Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, dismissing recent calls for the “decentralization” of the pipeline contract as a front for those looking to resume large-scale oil theft.

In a series of briefings across the Niger Delta over the weekend, IYC spokesperson Amb. Binebai Yerin Princewill “flipped the script” on critics, labeling them as “enemies of the state” who are uncomfortable with the high level of security now present in the creeks. Since Tantita began its operations under the leadership of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), Nigeria’s oil output has climbed back to near-peak levels. “The data doesn’t lie,” the IYC stated. “We have moved from a state of near-economic collapse to a stable 1.8 million barrels per day, and this ‘Solution’ must be protected at all costs.”

The council highlighted that the current model is not just about guarding pipes but about community inclusion. By employing thousands of local youths and leveraging deep-rooted grassroots intelligence, Tantita has managed to dismantle hundreds of illegal tapping points that previously bled the treasury dry. The IYC warned that bringing in rival groups or “splitting” the contract would only trigger inter-community jealousy and violence, potentially returning the region to the dark days of militancy and environmental degradation.

As President Bola Tinubu’s administration weighs its long-term security strategy, the message from the Ijaw youths is clear: the existing framework is “tested, trusted, and result-driven.” They urged the Federal Government to resist the “orchestrated campaigns” of displaced bunkerers and instead focus on institutionalizing Tantita’s role to ensure that the “lifeblood” of the Nigerian economy continues to flow without interruption.