American defence technology company, Textron Systems, has entered into an agreement to supply advanced surveillance drones to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, the private security firm engaged by the Federal Government to safeguard critical oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta.
Under the deal, Textron Systems will deliver three Aerosonde Mk 4.7 Vertical Take-Off and Landing Unmanned Aerial System drones to Tantita, a company owned by Niger Delta security contractor, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo.
The Aerosonde Mk 4.7 is a long-endurance tactical drone built for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Its VTOL capability allows it to take off and land in restricted locations without a runway, making it particularly suitable for monitoring the creeks, swamps and offshore terrains that characterise the Niger Delta.
Industry experts say the deployment of the drones will significantly boost Tantita’s surveillance operations, especially in detecting pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage that have long affected Nigeria’s oil-producing region.
The drones are capable of operating for extended periods while transmitting real-time images and data to ground control stations, a feature expected to strengthen monitoring of hard-to-reach locations.
The development has, however, generated mixed reactions among Nigerians. While some stakeholders have welcomed the move as a major step towards improving the protection of national oil assets, others have expressed concerns over the increasing sophistication of equipment being handled by private security firms.
Reacting on social media, some users described the agreement as a “welcome development” that could help curb oil theft and boost crude oil production. Others, however, cautioned that the Federal Government must ensure strict regulation and oversight of private security contractors equipped with advanced military-grade technology to prevent potential misuse.
Tantita Security Services has remained a key player in the Federal Government’s oil pipeline surveillance programme, with authorities reporting improvements in crude oil production following intensified monitoring of critical oil and gas infrastructure across the Niger Delta.
