Nigeria shifts security focus to protect oil assets from theft

Nigeria is realigning its security strategy to combat systemic oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta. The government has shifted the deployment of US-supplied security hardware, including advanced surveillance drones, communication systems, and tactical equipment, from counter-terrorism operations in the North East to the protection of critical oil infrastructure in the South.

This strategic pivot aims to mitigate massive economic losses caused by “bunkering” and sabotage, which have hindered Nigeria’s ability to meet OPEC production quotas and cost the federal government billions in lost revenue. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd has reported significant losses due to sophisticated crude siphoning from the Trans-Forcados and Trans-Niger pipelines.

In support of these efforts, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited has unveiled the TOCA (Tantita Operations Command and Control Application). This proprietary technology platform provides real-time and historical maritime surveillance, utilizing satellite imagery to track vessel movements and map offshore pipelines. The system can reconstruct activity within Nigerian waters over a two-year window and flags vessels that disable their Automatic Identification System (AIS). Additionally, the technology monitors radio frequency signals to detect onshore movements, such as phone or radio use, to enhance intelligence for the Joint Task Force.