Five Truths About Niger Delta Security And Governance: Insights from Comr. Preye V. Tambou’s Article.
By Warefa Pereke.
- Contracts are NOT “Common Wealth”.
A security contract (like Tantita) is a job given to those who can get results. It is not “oil money” meant to be shared like a birthday cake. Just as a soldier earns a salary for guarding a base, a firm earns its fee for guarding a pipeline.
- Results Over Rhetoric.
Before these new surveillance measures, Nigeria’s oil production was failing. Today, production is up and illegal bunkering is down. Success should be measured by barrels saved, not by which ethnic group holds the pen.
- Ethnic Division is a Trap.
Turning security into an “Ijaw vs. Others” fight only helps the elites. We should focus on performance and competence, not tribal identity. Justice that only cares about who got the contract is just envy in disguise.
- Community Safety Needs Structure.
Giving every small village its own “pipeline guard” would lead to chaos and fighting. For security to work, it must be organized and accountable to the State, not fragmented into hundreds of small groups.
- The Goal is Development, Not Destruction.
Instead of trying to tear down working systems, we should demand oversight, job training, and better governance from our political leaders. Real progress comes from building up our youth, not burning down what is already working.
The Bottom Line:
“A society that criminalizes structure and romanticizes chaos will never prosper.” — Comr. Preye V. Tambou
