National Assembly Affirms Tantita Security Contract as Nigerian Oil Production Surges to 1.8 Million Barrels Daily

Nigeria's National Assembly rejects petitions against Tantita Security, noting oil production has doubled to 1.8m bpd thanks to pipeline surveillance efforts.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 9, 2026, 6:57 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from THISDAYLIVE

Legislative Support for Private Surveillance Initiatives

The joint Committees on Petroleum Resources of the National Assembly delivered a decisive vote of confidence on Wednesday regarding the federal government's pipeline surveillance strategy. During a parliamentary roundtable in Abuja, lawmakers rejected three separate petitions that sought to challenge the exclusive contract held by Tantita Security Services. Committee Chairman Henry Okojie asserted that the current security framework has proven its effectiveness by significantly safeguarding national infrastructure and reversing a catastrophic decline in oil revenues that had previously threatened the nation's fiscal stability.

Dramatic Rebound in National Crude Output

Statistical evidence presented during the session highlighted a remarkable turnaround in Nigeria's energy sector. Since the initiation of the private surveillance contract in 2022, crude oil production has climbed from a nadir of 900,000 barrels per day to approximately 1.8 million barrels per day as of April 2026. This recovery follows a period where illegal tapping and large,scale theft caused output to plummet as low as 700,000 barrels, severely undermining Nigeria’s standing as a reliable global energy supplier during a time of heightened international demand.

Geopolitical Pressures Heighten Energy Security Urgency

Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen linked the necessity of these security measures to the volatile global landscape, specifically citing the Russia,Ukraine conflict and tensions in the Middle East. With the recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz causing worldwide price spikes and supply shortages, Tajudeen argued that Nigeria must maximize its internal production capacity. He emphasized that oil remains the primary energy source for 95 percent of global transportation, making the protection of Nigerian pipelines a matter of both economic survival and national security.