Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited disclosed on Monday at the ongoing Nigeria Oil and Gas Energy Week Conference in Abuja that oil companies purchase refined Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) from illegal refineries in various Niger Delta communities. This revelation, made in the presence of international and domestic oil and gas companies, was not contested by the firms in attendance.
Based in Warri, Delta State, Tantita focuses on providing security solutions tailored for the oil and gas sector and currently serves the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).
During a panel session titled “Exploring Nigerian Content Solutions to Meet Energy Demand,” Capt. Warredi Enisuoh, Executive Director of Operations and Technical at Tantita Security Services, highlighted that illegal refineries produce substantial volumes of diesel, with customers including numerous downstream operators. Enisuoh emphasized that these refineries receive patronage not only from smugglers but also from oil companies themselves.
Enisuoh questioned the disparity in diesel and Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) availability, stating, “About 90 per cent of the diesel in the fuel stations is produced by the communities. It will also interest you to know that even the oil companies patronise the local communities. Don’t let anybody deceive you, they (oil companies) also patronise the local communities.”
Regarding infrastructure for meeting energy demand, Enisuoh advocated for increased focus on local communities, stressing that without interventions from security agencies like Tantita, illegal diesel production would continue to rise.
He attributed the current high diesel prices to efforts by private security firms, including Tantita, to curb illegal refinery operations.
“The reason why the price of diesel is high today is because of the works of private security companies like my company Tantita Security Services. This is because we have been able to somehow cut down on a lot of the businesses of the illegal refineries. This is why you see the cost of diesel going up,” he stated.
On April 10, 2024, Tantita Security Services intercepted a tugboat transporting suspected illegally refined diesel in Rivers State, apprehending five individuals for interrogation. The tugboat, named Aya Oba Olori II, was escorted by a marine police boat and loaded with diesel from Onne dock.
“On Monday, April 1, 2024, the Tantita Security Services team on patrol pursued and arrested a tugboat – Aya Oba Olori II, which was being escorted by a marine police boat in Rivers State.
“The tugboat was laden with an unspecified quantity of suspected illegally refined AGO which was loaded from a barge at Onne dock on March 31. Five persons onboard the tugboat were arrested by Tantita team and are undergoing interrogation,” NNPC had stated.
Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the NOG conference, Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, led Nigeria’s delegation in discussions with the African Petroleum Regulators Forum. Komolafe highlighted the forum’s commitment to harnessing Africa’s vast crude oil and natural gas reserves for sustainable development across the continent.
Africa holds approximately 125 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and an estimated 620 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves, representing a significant portion of global resources.
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