The President of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM), His Highness (Dr.) Benjamin Style Tamaranebi (JP), has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his efforts in increasing Nigeria’s crude oil production and reducing oil theft under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

In an open letter addressed to President Tinubu and the youths of the Niger Delta, Tamaranebi condemned the recent killings of personnel from Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) and the bombing of oil facilities in the region. He described these acts as reckless and detrimental to the peace and development of the Niger Delta.

Tamaranebi commended the federal government for engaging Tantita and other security agencies, which he said had significantly improved the protection of oil installations and assets. He stated, “The engagement of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited and other non-state actors has yielded tremendous positive outcomes, leading to increased oil production and stability in the region.”

However, he expressed concern over the actions of disgruntled elements targeting oil infrastructure and security personnel. “The recent bombings of oil pipelines and the cold-blooded murder of TSSNL personnel are not acts of heroism but acts of self-destruction,” he said. “Those behind these attacks are tools in the hands of selfish politicians and criminal syndicates who do not care for the Niger Delta or its people.”

Tamaranebi warned that such violence undermines the benefits provided by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), particularly for host communities. He cited Section 257, Subsection 2 of the PIA, which stipulates that communities involved in sabotage forfeit their benefits. “Destroying oil assets is economic suicide. It robs our communities of the progress we have fought to achieve,” he emphasized.

He called on Niger Delta youths to reject violence and urged traditional rulers and community leaders to report individuals inciting destruction. “The Niger Delta must not be a battleground for political struggles that do not serve our interests,” he said.

Tamaranebi also acknowledged the contributions of key stakeholders, including the Minister of State for Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Group CEO of NNPC Limited, Engr. Mele Kyari, and the CEO of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, in ensuring compliance with the PIA.

He concluded by calling on the federal government to address the root causes of youth restiveness in the region while wishing President Tinubu a happy 73rd birthday. “We pray that God sustains you in good health to continue delivering on the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.

The letter reaffirmed HOSTCOM’s commitment to peace and development in the Niger Delta, urging collaboration over conflict for the region’s prosperity.