“Is One Family Controlling the Niger Delta’s Future? N2.1 Trillion Pipeline Surveillance Allegations Spark Wake-Up Call Across the Region.”
By Paul Ebi
A fresh controversy has erupted over Nigeria’s multi-billion-naira pipeline surveillance contracts in the Niger Delta following explosive allegations by investigative journalist and social justice activist, Fejiro Oliver.
Oliver, in a strongly worded statement circulating online, raised questions over what he described as a “N2.1 trillion pipeline surveillance scandal,” alleging that a small group linked to influential figures in the region controls the majority of oil pipeline monitoring operations.
The activist referenced statements allegedly made by Keston Pondi, suggesting they confirmed long-standing claims about the structure of surveillance contracts awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
According to Oliver, the Niger Delta pipeline network is divided into three operational corridors, which he claimed cover the entire oil-producing region.
He alleged that two of the corridors — the Western and Central zones — are effectively controlled by interests connected to one family, leaving only a single corridor outside their influence.
Oliver linked the Western corridor to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, the private security firm widely associated with former militant leader Government Ekpemupolo.
He further claimed that another company, Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited, allegedly manages the Central corridor and receives payments equivalent to those made to Tantita, despite both being connected to the same network of interests.
Oliver also alleged that the Central corridor was secretly awarded during the tenure of former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, rather than to other Niger Delta stakeholders.
“If one family controls two out of the three corridors responsible for pipeline surveillance across the Niger Delta, that means they control nearly 80 percent of the system,” Oliver said, warning that such concentration of power could have political and economic consequences for the region.
He also referenced past militant leaders such as Ateke Tom and Ebikabowei Victor Ben while recalling the role of ex-militant networks during earlier phases of the Niger Delta struggle.
Oliver contrasted the current arrangement with the era when pipeline security operations were reportedly handled by the late businessman Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo, claiming that wealth distribution among stakeholders at the time helped maintain stability in the oil-producing region.
The activist further alleged that billions of naira are currently being spent lobbying government officials to prevent the decentralization of the pipeline surveillance contracts, though he provided no documentary evidence to support the claim.
He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to decentralize pipeline surveillance operations and open the system to more Niger Delta stakeholders.
Oliver argued that broader participation in the lucrative contracts would reduce tensions in oil-producing communities and prevent the concentration of economic power among a few individuals.
However, as of the time of filing this report, neither Tantita Security Services nor Maton Engineering has publicly responded to the allegations.
Similarly, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has not issued an official clarification regarding the structure of the corridor surveillance contracts.
The pipeline surveillance programme was introduced to curb crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta, a problem that has historically cost Nigeria billions of dollars in lost oil revenue.
Analysts say the new claims are likely to intensify ongoing debates over transparency, regional equity, and control of oil security contracts in Nigeria’s oil-rich but politically sensitive Niger Delta.
