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The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has commended Tantita Security Services Limited for its pivotal role in safeguarding Nigeria’s oil infrastructure, following the latest report by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) which revealed that crude oil losses have dropped to their lowest level in nearly sixteen years.

According to the Commission’s July 2025 data, daily crude oil losses were contained at 9,600 barrels per day, the lowest since 2009 when losses stood at 8,500 barrels per day. This is a dramatic improvement from the high-loss years that crippled Nigeria’s oil industry and significantly eroded government revenue. Between January and July 2025, Nigeria recorded total crude oil losses of 2.04 million barrels, averaging 9,600 barrels per day over the seven-month period. This achievement marks a decisive turnaround for the nation’s upstream petroleum sector, which for decades has been bedevilled by systemic leakages, rampant theft, and acts of sabotage.

HURIWA praised Tantita Security Services for being at the forefront of this transformation, stressing that the bravery and dedication of its operatives have been critical to reversing the long-standing trend of crude oil losses in the Niger Delta. The Association recalled that Tantita’s personnel, despite facing constant threats to their lives, have successfully confronted notorious oil bunkerers and safeguarded critical pipelines that form the backbone of Nigeria’s economic lifeline. By leveraging their intimate knowledge of the Niger Delta’s difficult terrain, Tantita has been able to deploy effective surveillance and enforcement measures that have frustrated the activities of oil thieves.

For HURIWA, the NUPRC’s latest report is not merely a statistical update but a clear validation of Tantita’s impact on the ground. The Association emphasised that the role of community-based security organisations like Tantita cannot be underestimated, as their unique insight into the local environment and their ability to engage with host communities have made them indispensable in the war against crude oil theft. HURIWA noted that in years past, the oil sector suffered catastrophic leakages, with 2021 standing out as the worst year in two decades when Nigeria lost 37.6 million barrels of crude oil, averaging 102,900 barrels daily. By comparison, the 2.04 million barrels lost between January and July 2025 represent a staggering 94.57 per cent reduction, a feat the Association said was only possible because of a deliberate collaboration between the government, regulatory agencies, and credible security contractors such as Tantita.

HURIWA recalled that the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021 provided the legal and regulatory framework for these reforms, enabling consistent reductions in oil theft and associated losses. The Act opened the door for more innovative approaches, including the engagement of private security contractors with proven capacity to deliver results. Tantita Security Services, under the leadership of its management team, seized the opportunity and has since become a trusted partner in defending Nigeria’s most critical resource base.

The Association stressed that the courage displayed by Tantita operatives, who often face heavily armed criminal gangs, deserves national recognition. HURIWA insisted that the Tinubu administration must sustain its support for Tantita and ensure that saboteurs or vested interests do not undermine the progress made so far. According to HURIWA, abandoning the gains achieved through Tantita’s efforts would be a grave mistake that could plunge the oil sector back into the dark days of rampant theft and staggering losses.

In applauding the Commission’s role, HURIWA also credited NUPRC Chief Executive Engineer Gbenga Komolafe for his leadership in implementing kinetic and non-kinetic strategies that complemented the on-the-ground operations of Tantita. Komolafe had explained that improved surveillance, comprehensive metering audits, and the approval of new evacuation routes were central to achieving the record-low figures. HURIWA maintained that while regulatory oversight is indispensable, the boots-on-the-ground operations carried out by Tantita have made the difference between policy pronouncements and measurable results.

The Association pointed out that reduced oil theft has direct implications for Nigeria’s economic stability, as the government depends heavily on oil revenues to fund its budget and provide essential services. With losses curtailed, more crude oil is available for legitimate exports, thereby increasing government earnings and improving investor confidence in the country’s petroleum sector. HURIWA insisted that Nigerians must demand that the additional revenues accruing from these gains be transparently managed and channelled towards infrastructure, social services, and poverty alleviation.

Energy experts have also praised the sharp decline in crude oil losses. Dr. Aisha Mohammed, a Lagos-based analyst, observed that the figures speak volumes about the effectiveness of reforms and partnerships in the oil sector. She, however, warned that sustaining the momentum requires vigilance, technological innovation, and the institutionalisation of accountability frameworks. HURIWA aligned with this view, noting that complacency or political interference could quickly erode the progress made.

For HURIWA, Tantita’s example shows that solutions to Nigeria’s challenges can be found when government engages credible local actors with proven integrity and results. The Association urged the Federal Government to expand such collaborations and to ensure that communities in the Niger Delta are adequately empowered, as their support is critical to maintaining peace and security around oil infrastructure.

The Association reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring developments in the sector and vowed to resist any attempt to derail the progress made in curbing crude oil theft. HURIWA concluded by declaring that the current decline in crude oil losses represents a unique opportunity to restore Nigeria’s reputation as a reliable oil producer and to reinvest the gains into building a more just and equitable society.