The Common Men Assembly (CMA) has thrown its weight behind Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited's (TSSNL) surveillance of pipeline with an advisory to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resist pressure driven by sectional interests, and a call to prioritise evidence-based decision-making, as well as strengthen systems delivering measurable results while maintaining structured institutional oversight.

The position of CMA, a coalition of seasoned professionals drawn from diverse strategic sectors, is contained in a press release signed by its Chairman, Chief Jude Angodideke; Secretary General, Mr. Miepekumo Brialade; and Spokesman/PRO, Engr. Duopayoebiyo Akemotubo.

The Association whose membership it said includes “experts with direct field experience in pipeline surveillance systems, asset protection architecture, crude oil logistics, and the socio-economic dynamics of host communities in the Niger Delta" said its position "reflects not merely a civic viewpoint, but a multidisciplinary technical assessment grounded in field realities, operational data, and national economic priorities."

Part of its statement reads, "Your Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, The Common Men Assembly (CMA) humbly addresses Your Excellency with a position informed by expanded technical evaluation, economic assessment, and extensive field observation regarding Nigeria’s oil infrastructure protection system, with particular reference to the operational model currently driven by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.

"This submission is not driven by sentiment or narrow advocacy. It is grounded in verifiable field outcomes, practical security realities, and the overriding need to protect Nigeria’s economic backbone," it stated.

The CMA said its assessment of the pre-Tantita era has it on record that Nigeria was loosing "billions of dollars in annual revenue losses severely impacting federal allocations and state finances" from low crude production levels "as low as 1.0 to 1.2 million barrels per day, far below Nigeria’s OPEC quota of about 1.8 million barrels per day" output, leading to Nigeria losing its position as "Africa’s leading oil producer" as well as investors confidence.

“In the creeks and waterways of the Niger Delta, illegal bunkering became deeply entrenched,” the CMA said, adding that, “hundreds of illegal refining sites operated openly, crude evacuation through illegal barges and vessels became routine, pipeline breaches were frequent and often left unattended for extended periods."

However, following the engagement of Tantita under the leadership of High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) and High Chief (Engr.) Kestin Ebimorbowei Pondi, the CMA noted that, "Within months of coordinated operations: Oil production rebounded toward 1.5 to 1.7 million barrels per day" leading to "improved national revenue performance, greater stability in budget projections, renewed interest from investors and international partners," while also noting further that "criminal networks lost operational confidence, communities began aligning with lawful economic structures, stakeholders regained trust in the system’s ability to function."

According to the CMA, Tantita's operations has "grown beyond the scope of a conventional contractor into a coordinated stabilisation mechanism" that fuses "disciplined command structure, local intelligence integration, and community-level acceptance" driven from a technical standpoint "a clearly defined and enforceable command hierarchy, continuous intelligence flow sourced directly from host communities, rapid intervention capabilities across land and maritime environments, deep operational familiarity with difficult terrain, structured inclusion of previously disruptive elements into formal surveillance architecture."

The Association also notified President Tinubu of Tantita's most impactful dimensions of its community-based model, which is its employment structure of "over 20,000 direct opportunities, alongside a broader indirect engagement network, effectively converting thousands of previously vulnerable youths into active stakeholders in national asset protection."

It further noted that Tantita has been able boost the confidence of investors, increased government revenue, and improved fiscal stability in the oil and gas sector due to increased crude production, decline in pipeline vandalism, oil theft, while hostility has declined with improved cooperation across the region through its community-linked security system framework that involves "Large-scale youth engagement, reintegration of former illegal operators, direct collaboration with community leadership structures, shared ownership of national assets."

The Association stated that since security decisions in the oil and gas sector influences economic policy decisions, "Pipeline security must be treated as a central economic variable" warning that disruptions could "lead to revenue losses, reduced production capacity, higher operational costs, damage to international credibility" asides job losses, increase in crime, environmental pollution, conflicts, as well as reignite resource control among others.

It therefore warned that any attempt at "Altering the current structure may result in return of large-scale oil theft, renewed community conflicts, decline in production, economic instability and environmental degradation" and that "Nigeria must not abandon a working model" but must protect proven results and prioritise national interest over competing pressures.

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