Pipeline surveillance: Firm denies alleged operational incompetence

An oil pipeline security firm in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Abili Integrated Services Limited, has debunked the operational incompetence allegation levelled against it, describing the claim as false and malicious.

The company, who watches over a section of oil pipeline installations in 12 local government areas of Rivers, Bayelsa, Imo and Delta states for Nigerian Agip Oil Company, now Oando, since 2021, was described as being incompetent at the recently held National Assembly Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources Round Table Meeting on Pipeline Security, by Tantita Security, a bigger company, who secures larger areas of the facility in Niger Delta for the Federal Government.

The Managing Director of Abili Integrated Services, Brown Edoghotu, at a news conference in Port Harcourt yesterday, said the portion his company protected had consistently recorded up to 96 per cent oil production since its operation.

He said the firm’s performance in oil asset security was a proof of its integrity, with 96 per cent oil output records.

“These are not claims—they are verifiable operational results,” he said.

Earlier in his introduction, he said: “We are security contractors in the Nigerian oil industry. We were engaged in 2021 by NAOC (now Oando) to provide security for all oil assets operated by them in the land areas comprising 12 local government areas in Rivers, Bayelsa, Imo and Delta States.

“We do not cover all the land areas, only a portion of it. At Abili Integrated Services Limited, we stand by integrity, performance and accountability. We believe that results—not rhetoric—should determine credibility.

Speaking on the Tantita presentation at the National Assembly committee engagement for the surveillance renewal bid, Abili Integrated Services boss said: “The video Tantita showed had his image in it, thereby making him look like an oil vandal, but as was clear to everyone, Tantita went to extraordinary lengths to secure its position as the sole contractor for the pipeline surveillance contract.”

Edoghotu said he was not against any Niger Delta son getting contracts from the Federal Government, but it should not be at Abili’s expense.

“This involved falsely maligning other operators in the sector, making false claims on its own competence, and failing to disclose the culpability of its officials in the continued vandalism of pipelines and theft of crude oil.

“We are making this intervention today because our corporate integrity was falsely maligned during the presentation by officials of Tantita Security.”