The activities of Tantita Security Services LImited has been described as more beneficial to the Niger Delta and its environment than it is to the Federal Government.
This was declared on Tuesday by the Managing Director of Tantita, Chief Kestin Pondi, while playing host to media practitioners at the company’s headquarters in Warri, Delta State.
Pondi emphasized that the core objective of Tantita is to protect the environment from illegal oil bunkers towards maintaining a cleaner and safer Niger Delta.
Expressing confidence that the people will soon appreciate the essence of the company, the business magnate stressed that the activities of illegal bunkering had caused more harm to the people and the environment than the immediate gain of the few individuals who indulged in the business.
Pondi further said that the company’s effort towards keeping a clean environment will be help the region enjoy the proceeds of the Petroleum Industry Act when implemented.
He said;
“What Tantita is doing is going to salvage our environment by way of stopping the incessant and deliberated pollution of the Niger Delta for small gains.
“It is going to help our communities, particularly oil bearing ones enjoy the full proceeds of the PIA when implemented.
“On the other hand, pipeline vandalization is a criminal offence that is punishable by maximum sentence. We urge our people to comply with us as it is more beneficial to them than the Federal Government and NNPC.”
He reiterated that research by medical professionals, health safety and environmental experts over the years had revealed that the people of Niger Delta region are prone to cancer and other related diseases due to the consistent gas flare in the air by multi-national oil companies as well as the nefarious activities of illegal oil bunkering, thereby reducing the life span of the people.
He lamented that the illegal oil bunkering activities had killed almost all the fishes in the river, thereby gravely hampering the only sources of livelihood ( fishing and farming) in the riverine communities and making life unbearable for the people.
Pondi stressed that the company has helped increase the daily output of oil production in the country to over two million barrels per day.
He also revealed that Tantita has gainfully employed over twenty five thousand youths, men and women from the street, thereby drastically reducing the rate of crime and unemployment in the region.
On his part, the Legal Adviser of Tantita Security Services Nig. Ltd, Barr. Emmanuel Jakpa, stressed that the security outfit is doing its best to operate under the ambit of the law and considers human rights protection as a top priority.
Meanwhile, speaker after speaker, the publishers testified that the fight against illegal bunkering championed by Tantita has yielded positive results within the last few months, adding that the aquatic environment is gradually returning back to normal.
Publishers present at the parley include Amb. Binebai Princewill – The Liberator Newspaper, Oyinbi Onduku – Niger Delta Mirror, Basil Ujobolo – Kpooka Media, Tare Magbei – Daily Report Nigeria, Anthony Demebide – Ultimate Report Nigeria, Francis Abai – Pen Global and Ezekiel Kagbala – Focal Point Report.