Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has alleged that individuals involved in oil theft, former pipeline surveillance contractors and political actors are behind recent calls for the Federal Government to revoke a surveillance contract designed to protect oil pipelines in the Niger Delta.

Adeyanju said the campaign against the contract is being driven by groups whose interests have been affected by efforts to curb crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the region.

According to him, the critics include individuals previously linked to illegal oil bunkering as well as former contractors who previously handled pipeline protection but allegedly failed to significantly reduce oil theft.

The pipeline surveillance contract in question is linked to Tantita, a company associated with former militant leader Government Ekpemupolo, widely known as Tompolo.

Supporters of the arrangement say it has helped improve pipeline monitoring and contributed to an increase in Nigeria’s crude oil production after years of losses linked to vandalism and illegal bunkering.

Adeyanju argued that the contract has disrupted networks that previously benefited from oil theft, prompting what he described as coordinated attempts to discredit the programme.

However, some critics have questioned the arrangement, arguing that awarding such contracts to private security outfits or groups linked to former militants may create new security and governance concerns.

Others have described the contract as a form of patronage and called for its review by the government.

Adeyanju urged the Federal Government to investigate the campaign against the surveillance contract, warning that revoking it without proper assessment could weaken efforts to protect Nigeria’s oil infrastructure.

He maintained that safeguarding pipelines remains critical to reducing oil theft and improving crude oil production in the country.