Court refuses to stop Tantita, NNPCL, others from oil pipeline protection
An FCT High Court has declined to grant an application seeking to stop the renewal of the nation’s pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd and others. Justice Bello Kawu declined the request in a recent order and directed the claimant/applicant to serve the processes and return for accelerated hearing of the […]
An FCT High Court has declined to grant an application seeking to stop the renewal of the nation’s pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd and others.
Justice Bello Kawu declined the request in a recent order and directed the claimant/applicant to serve the processes and return for accelerated hearing of the motion on notice fixed for April 21.
The decision followed an ex parte motion FCT/HC/M/4534/2026 filed and argued by A.C. Oba Esq, counsel to the Registered Trustees of Peoples Wellbeing Association against the Attorney General of the Federation, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Nigerian Security Services Nigeria Ltd, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd, and Abokus Integrated Security Services Ltd.
After the listening to the submissions, Justice Kawu ordered the applicants to issue and serve the originating processes and other any processes in the suit on Tantita, Pipeline Infrastructure and Abokus outside the jurisdiction of the court.
In the enrolled order dated April 2, 2026, the judge held that the request to stop the federal government from renewing the pipeline surveillance contract worth billions of dollars for the purpose of securing pipelines in the Niger Delta upon its expiration in August 2026 could not be granted due to “national interest” and throwing the country into “economic crisis”.
The judge ruled that “pipeline security is at the heart of our national economic survival and it is in public interest that pipeline security providers continue to provide this essential national service.”