Joyce Mmereole Okoli
- Nigeria’s maritime security received a major boost on Thursday, May 15, 2026, as Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited formally handed over 15 newly acquired gun boats to the Nigerian Armed Forces, marking another decisive step in the nation’s fight against oil theft and marine-based crimes.
The commissioning ceremony, held at the Nigerian Navy Boatyard in Port Harcourt, drew top military commanders, senior executives of Tantita Security Services, and dignitaries from across Rivers State.
Of the 15 gun boats, seven were handed over to the Nigerian Army, while the Nigerian Navy received eight, further strengthening the synergy between both services in joint operations across the Niger Delta.
Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, headquartered in Effurun, Delta State, is a leading private security company specializing in pipeline protection, paramilitary escort operations, and advanced surveillance, particularly in safeguarding Nigeria’s critical oil and gas infrastructure.
Officials at the event described the handover as a testament to the growing importance of public-private collaboration in securing Nigeria’s waterways. The newly commissioned vessels are expected to significantly enhance surveillance, rapid response, and deterrence capabilities against oil theft, piracy, illegal bunkering, and other maritime threats.
With Nigeria’s coastal and riverine corridors long plagued by smuggling and criminal activities, the deployment of these modern gun boats is seen as a strategic reinforcement of the Armed Forces’ operational readiness, ultimately ensuring safer navigation for commercial operators, oil and gas assets, and civilians who depend on the nation’s waterways.