Crude output: COAS commends soldiers as Tantita sets 2mbpd target

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has commended officers and men of the 16 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, for their role in stabilising Nigeria’s crude oil production, as private surveillance outfit Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited reaffirmed its commitment to boosting national output to two million barrels per day by 2025.

Oluyede, who visited the brigade headquarters on Monday, said the formation had demonstrated professionalism and leadership in tackling crude theft and other threats in the Niger Delta.

He praised the Commander, 16 Brigade and Sector 2, Joint Task Force South South Operations Delta Safe, Brig. Gen. Olufemi Obolo, for his competence in steering the troops.

“I can tell you I’m impressed with what they are doing. It is obvious the brigade is being driven by a very competent officer who is leading his men well,” the army chief said. “From the oil production sum that has been stable for a while, I enjoin them to do more so that we can have it go up to two million barrels per day. More revenue will then accrue to the country, which will engender greater development for Nigerians.”

Oluyede also hailed the Bayelsa State Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission for supporting the military through infrastructure projects.

He inaugurated several facilities during the visit, including a garrison house donated by Lt. Col. Mohammed Sheriff Kaigama, a detention facility annex, and a 300KVA electrification project executed by the NDDC.

The COAS further inspected ongoing projects at the brigade funded by the Bayelsa State Government, stressing that the Nigerian Army remained “the people’s army” and could function more effectively when supported by Nigerians.

NDDC Executive Director (Projects), Dr. Victor Antai, who represented the Managing Director, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, said the commission had provided substations, solar grids, streetlights, and over 200 high- and low-tension concrete poles to strengthen security infrastructure at the brigade.

“Our contributions to the 16 Brigade will improve general efficiency and the fight against insecurity in the region,” Ogbuku stated in a release by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama.

Meanwhile, in Delta State, TSSNL restated its resolve to drive up national oil production in collaboration with the military and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

The firm’s Executive Director, Operations and Technical, Capt. Warredi Enisuoh, represented by Head of Technical, Mr. Roland Isereke, spoke on Tuesday at the opening of a three-day capacity building workshop for security personnel.

Enisuoh noted that Nigeria currently produces about 1.745 million barrels per day, with a budget projection of 2.06 million barrels per day for 2025, and expressed confidence that the 2mbpd target was achievable before the end of next year.

He disclosed that Tantita had deployed state-of-the-art surveillance equipment, including drones capable of 10–16 hours of flight time, to monitor pipeline networks across the creeks.

“Today, the pipelines are all green. There is no infraction. Illegal refining has been reduced to the barest minimum because of collaboration with the military and NSCDC. We barely sit down — we are always in the field,” he said.

The Tantita operations head added that the firm often faced armed resistance from oil thieves but overcame such threats through tactical coordination with government security agencies.

He urged participants to take the training seriously, emphasising modules such as surveillance techniques, intelligence gathering, managing conflicts with host communities, and civil-military liaison.

The training coordinator, Commodore Omatseye Nesiama (retd.), said the workshop would strengthen the capacity of security operatives to protect critical national infrastructure.