The Executive Director (Technical Operations) of Tantita Security Services Limited, Capt. Warredi Enisuoh, has revealed how foreigners were coming from neighbouring countries Niger Republic to steal Nigerian oil with unmarked tankers.

Captain Enisuoh, disclosed this over the weekend during the commissioning and handover of the permanent Secretariat of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Warri Correspondents’ Chapel, built and furnished by the Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), High Chief (Dr.) Oweizide Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo).

In a lecture he delivered entitled; “Fight Against Oil Theft: The impact of private security and the role of the media”, Capt. Enisuoh, said that prior to Tantita’s engagement by the federal government, people were stealing Nigerian oil with impunity, some even connecting hose into well jackets and pipelines and siphoning directly unhindered into tankers.

According Capt. Enisuoh, these tankers change their number plates at intervals to evade security detection. He also revealed that the stolen crude is often mixed with imported diesel and sold in Nigeria, contributing to hike in fuel prices.

“There is also one problem with this project, ships used to bring from outside Nigeria 10,000 tonnes of diesel, they arrived Lagos but they don’t enter Lagos. They wait outside Lagos for the illegal bunkering Niger Delta crude oil to come to that chamber.

“They pump it in and turned the 10,000 from Europe to 70,000 from Europe and then they stay outside and manufacture documents and say all are from Europe. They come in and sell. That was why people were buying diesel at N250 as at that time.

He said that a sample test of those crude and products claimed to have been imported, were coming from the Niger Delta region.

“People come from Niger Republic to carry our crude oil. They use tankers and change number plates at intervals to beat security. We have had cases where even foreign countries like Niger Republic come all the way to get illegal crude from the Niger Delta and drive hundreds of kilometers.

“These people bring ships to well jackets, uncoupled the well jacket and steal directly. No payment is made to anywhere and they are gone just like that. There are even some areas where illegal vaults have been inserted into the pipelines. They hire those vaults out at N6million and when you pay they will tell you were those vaults are, to go and open like water, fetch and go.

“That’s why we felt let us see these opportunity to address some of these social economics issues and coopt some of these people we consider offenders into the system to give them sense of belongings.”

He said that Tantita Security Services was able to bring the level of economic sabotage and environmental hazards associated with it to its barest minimum.

“If you have noticed something you would have discovered that the air around Port Harcourt is very clean now. There used to be soot. Almost all the illegal refineries have been shut down because of this project. So the project is not all about the money, it is also about the environment. If you go through the creeks now you will noticed the waters are cleaner now and fishes are coming back”.

Enisuoh however commended NUJ Warri Correspondents’ Chapel for partnering with the company to secure critical national assets, noting that the partnership has yielded significant results, including an increase in oil production from 700,000 to 1.7 million barrels per day.

“By the time we took over, we were having about 700 to 750 thousand barrels per day. Now it’s about 1.7 million barrels per day and this is why we’re in partnership with the Nigeria Union of Journalists today to keep telling our good stories of successes, Capt. Enisuoh added.

He gave a brief history of how the NUJ became part of the Tantita story, saying, “When we got the contract to protect oil and gas pipelines from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we felt protecting the pipelines alone was not enough. We asked ourselves: how do we tell our story? How do we get the message across to society? This is where the NUJ came in”.

Performing the commissioning of the State-of-the-art edifice, built and furnished by Tantita, Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by the Executive Director (Projects) of DESOPADEC, Ebenezar Okorodudu, said it was a rare feat by the NUJ Warri Chapel.

He thanked Government Ekpemupolo and High Chief Kestin Pondi for their contributions in building the secretariat.

According to Governor Oborevwori: “Tantita, within its few years of existence, has distinguished itself as an organisation with a clear sense of purpose and understanding of societal realities.

“They are not only committed to their core mandate but also continuously seek ways to contribute meaningfully to society”, the governor said

Speeking briefly, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Alhassan Yahyah, said: “This is the first time in the history of NUJ that a project like this is being commissioned for a chapel.”

In his goodwill message, member representing Eseodo/Ilaje Federal Constituency in the 10th House of Representatives and a renowned journalist, Donald Ojogor, commended Tompolo and Pondi for conceiving and building the secretariat. He also thanked fellow journalist Asiwaju Sola Adebayo and Dr Paul Bebenimibo for their instrumental roles in bringing the project to fruition.

“This is the first of its kind by a chapel in the entire country. It’s a very rare feat. I believe other chapels will be inspired and follow this path.

In the same vien, prominent Niger Delta traditional ruler, the Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, HRM King Monday Obukohwo Whiskey, Udurhie I, commended Tantita for their support in building the NUJ Warri secretariat.

The monarch who is also a journalist by profession said, “I am very happy, and every time you see me write about Tantita, it is because if you don’t protect the good things you have, others will take them away from you.”

The revered monarch who said the establishment of the chapel started during his time, gave a brief history of the chapel’s formation in 1996, citing the disqualification of candidates on election day as the motivation behind its creation.

“Only two of my colleagues who started with me are here today—Otunba Sola Adebayo and Elder Emmanuel Ogoigbe. We stood together and built this chapel.”

The Orosuen of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, HRM Ogheneochuko Ohwotemu, also delivered remarks at the event.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Chairman of the Chapel, Comrade Victor Okpomor, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Chairman of Tantita, Government Ekpemupolo, Matthew Tonlagha (002), TSSNL; and the Managing Director of TSSNL, Pondi, for constructing and inaugurating a permanent secretariat for the union.

He said the secretariat was fully constructed and tastefully furnished by Tompolo, adding, “This initiative is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility to its operational areas, particularly host communities.

Comrade Okpomor noted that, for over 30 years since its establishment, the NUJ Warri Chapel had struggled with the burden of annual rent payments.

“We are grateful to the Delta State Government and other stakeholders, who have come to our aid whenever we called for assistance in paying rent. Special thanks to our former landlord, Joshua Oronimighwu, for his consistent patience and understanding whenever we faced difficulties meeting our rental obligations.

“I wish to highly commend Paul Bebenimibo, Media Consultant to TSSNL, for his tireless efforts in ensuring this project became a reality. My deep gratitude also goes to Asiwaju Sola Adebayo for his steadfast support of the Chapel and the Union at large.”

The event was attended by prominent dignitaries, including the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and the National President of the NUJ, Alhassan Yahyah, chairman of the Delta Online Publisher Forum (DOPF), Mr. Emmanuel Enebeli, among others. (Daily Sun)