By Staff Reporter

The Northern Youth Progressive Network, NYPN, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to expand the mandate of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd to Northern Nigeria, describing its community-based security model as “peace that cannot wait”.

In a press statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Sunday Lawee, and issued in Abuja on Thursday, June 18, the group applauded Tantita for what it termed a turnaround in pipeline protection in the Niger Delta.

NYPN said crude oil theft had once threatened Nigeria’s economy, with international oil companies exiting and billions lost to pipeline vandalism.

“Before Tantita, our oil pipelines were ATMs for criminals. Crude theft was a national embarrassment. Then came Tantita. In just months, the story changed. Oil theft crashed. Production soared. The creeks went from war zones to work zones,” the statement read.

The group attributed Tantita’s success to “intelligence, “cutting-edge technology”, local knowledge, and respect for the people,” summarizing its playbook as: _Trust the locals. Pay the youths. Partner with the chiefs. Deliver results_.

In the words of the Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd, “We don’t protect the asset against the people we protect the asset with the people “

NYPN urged the President to replicate the model in the North, where it said banditry, insurgency, and kidnapping have made farming, education, and commerce difficult.

“Sir, we respectfully but firmly urge you: Expand Tantita’s mandate to Northern Nigeria. Now. The North is bleeding. Bandits tax our farmers before they harvest. Insurgents bomb our schools. Kidnappers auction our children. Highways have become death traps,” Lawee stated.

The group argued that if Tantita could secure thousands of kilometers of pipelines in swampy terrain, it could help secure villages, forests, and farmlands in the North when paired with traditional rulers, vigilantes, hunters, and security agencies.

NYPN stressed that it was not calling for the disbandment of the Army, Police, or DSS, but for “strategic reinforcement” through collaboration.

“We are not asking you to disband the Army or Police. We are asking for strategic reinforcement. The same way Tantita backs the Navy and NSCDC in the South, let them back the Army, Police, and DSS in the North. Collaboration, not competition. Results, not rhetoric,” it said.

The group also commended the GCEO of NNPC Ltd, the National Security Adviser, and the Chief of Defence Staff for supporting Tantita’s operations.

NYPN concluded that Nigeria cannot afford “two standards of security” and that expanding Tantita to the North would show that the President rewards competence and believes in Nigerian capacity.

“Mr. President, history is watching. Be the leader who deployed home-grown solutions without fear or favour. Expanding Tantita to the North will prove three things: that you reward competence, that you believe in Nigerian capacity, and that the North is not forgotten,” the statement added.