One group of stakeholders wey dey call demself South South Initiative don beg President Bola Ahmed Tinubu make e no cancel the current pipeline surveillance system for Niger Delta. Dem warn say if government scatter the arrangement, Nigeria fit lose the progress wey don happen for oil production and security for the region.

The group talk dis one for press briefing wey dem hold on March 12, 2026. Dem say plenty wrong information dey spread about the oil pipeline protection contracts wey lawmakers for the National Assembly of Nigeria dey currently check.

According to dem, Nigeria oil pipelines still be the backbone of the country economy, so protecting am very important to keep government revenue and economic stability.

Dem quote report from Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) wey show say between 2009 and 2020, Nigeria lose about 619.7 million barrels of crude oil worth around $46.16 billion because of pipeline vandalism, oil theft and illegal refineries for Niger Delta.

The crisis come worse for 2022 when another 36.69 million barrels disappear in just one year, pushing the oil sector close to collapse. At that time, Nigeria crude oil production drop reach about 700,000 barrels per day, far below the quota wey the country get under Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

The group also mention Nigerian businessman Tony Elumelu, saying thieves nearly wipe out production from some oil assets wey dey produce about 58,000 barrels per day, with up to 97 percent of output stolen.

Because of the bad security situation then, big international oil companies like Chevron and Shell begin declare force majeure on some operations and start plans to sell some of their onshore assets for Niger Delta.

But the group say things start to improve after the Federal Government adopt community-based pipeline protection strategy. Under the arrangement, indigenous security companies like Tantita Security Services and Maton Engineering Services begin monitor different pipeline corridors across the Niger Delta.

According to the South South Initiative, the system involve host communities directly in protecting oil pipelines. The plan also create jobs for youths and help reduce involvement in illegal refining and oil theft.

Dem say during the early stage of the surveillance work, more than 4,000 illegal refineries and crude oil theft canals were discovered and destroyed, while hundreds of illegal pipeline tapping points were blocked. Some major pipelines wey vandals force shut down before also return to operation.

Because of these efforts, Nigeria oil production begin recover gradually — from around 700,000 barrels per day during the crisis to about 1.7 million barrels per day today, bringing the country closer to its OPEC production target.

The group say the increase in production don bring billions of dollars extra revenue to Nigeria and also improve investor confidence in the oil sector. Dem add say Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) also return to profitability partly because oil theft reduce.

The organisation say international reports from OPEC don acknowledge the improvement in Nigeria’s production since 2022, while Chevron Nigeria also recently confirm say the operating environment for Niger Delta don improve.

The group also explain say when the pipeline surveillance contract first go to Tantita, the company leadership organise meeting for Oporoza, headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, where community leaders from across the Niger Delta gather.

For that meeting, surveillance work share across different communities and ethnic groups along the pipeline routes so that everybody go take part in protecting the facilities.

However, the group claim say some people wey benefit before from oil theft and illegal refining now dey try spread misinformation to discredit the surveillance arrangement.

Dem advise the Federal Government to strengthen the system instead of dismantling it. Dem also suggest say government fit set up independent panel to verify the claims about improved pipeline security and increased oil production.

The South South Initiative warn say if government suddenly stop the surveillance framework without better replacement, the Niger Delta fit return to the violent period of militancy and pipeline sabotage wey once cripple Nigeria oil sector.

Dem finally urge President Tinubu and Nigerians to protect the progress wey don happen and support policies wey go maintain peace, stability and development for the Niger Delta.