Maritime Security and Safety
Tantita Donates 15 Combat-Ready Gun Boats to Nigerian Navy, Army in Major Push to End Oil Theft Crisis
Tantita Donates 15 Combat-Ready Gun Boats to Nigerian Navy, Army in Major Push to End Oil Theft Crisis
Tantita Security Services commissions semi-ballistic vessels built entirely in Nigeria, signalling a new era of indigenous maritime security
By Ighoyota Onaibre | Waterways News Correspondent
PORT HARCOURT, Rivers State — In what maritime security analysts are describing as one of the most significant private-sector contributions to Nigeria’s anti-oil theft campaign in recent memory, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited on Thursday formally commissioned and donated 15 semi-ballistic, glass-reinforced gun boats to the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Army, in a colourful but purposeful ceremony held at the Nigerian Navy Shipyard Limited in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The handover, attended by senior military officers, government officials and key stakeholders from Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, marks a bold new chapter in the country’s ongoing effort to curb the haemorrhage of crude oil through theft, illegal bunkering, and the incessant vandalism of oil and gas pipelines — a crisis that has cost Nigeria billions of dollars in lost revenue and environmental damage over the past decade.
The 15 vessels were not imported. They were conceived, designed, and built on Nigerian soil — at the Nigerian Navy Shipyard Limited — under a contract expressly awarded by Tantita Security Services to ensure that local communities, local expertise, and indigenous industry benefit directly from the investment. That decision alone is being applauded as a rare and deliberate act of commitment to the Nigerian Content Act and the broader goal of building domestic industrial capacity.
Purpose-Built for Nigeria’s Waterways
Each of the gun boats is built to what officials described as world-class specifications. Engineered for the demanding and often treacherous terrain of Nigeria’s Niger Delta waterways — a labyrinthine network of creeks, estuaries, and offshore channels that have long served as cover for criminal oil syndicates — the vessels are designed for high-speed patrol, rapid interdiction, and sustained operational deployment.
With a crew capacity of seven per vessel, the boats are equipped to carry armed personnel and the equipment needed for extended waterway surveillance. Their semi-ballistic hull design provides both speed and resilience, while the glass-reinforced construction makes them well-suited to the corrosive saline and freshwater environments of the Delta region.
Eight of the gun boats were allocated to the Nigerian Navy, which operates extensively across the offshore and coastal belts of the Niger Delta and the Gulf of Guinea. The remaining seven were handed to the Nigerian Army, bolstering the riverine capacity of its troops who regularly conduct joint operations in the interior creeks of the Delta states.
A Ceremony Befitting the Moment
The handover ceremony drew a gathering reflective of the event’s national importance. Representing the Chief of Defence Staff as Special Guest of Honour was Major General E. E. Emekah, who presided over the official reception of the vessels on behalf of the Nigerian military.
Also in attendance were General Efe Edafioghor (rtd), who represented Tantita’s Managing Director, High Chief Engr. Kestin Pondi; Ms. Daisy Jaja; and Engr. Trevor Chuks Illide, among several other senior officials, military personnel, and industry stakeholders.
The Superintendent of the Naval Shipyard, Rear Admiral I. Ubani, was particularly effusive in his commendation of Tantita, noting that the partnership represents far more than a donation of equipment. According to him, it is a validation of Nigeria’s capacity to produce military-grade maritime assets domestically — a point of pride not just for the Navy, but for the entire Nigerian shipbuilding industry.
“This project is a boost for indigenous shipbuilding and local content development,” Rear Admiral Ubani stated, acknowledging that the successful completion and commissioning of 15 operational gun boats entirely within Nigeria sends a powerful message to the region and beyond.
Tantita Speaks: Protecting a National Asset
Delivering remarks on behalf of Tantita’s Managing Director, High Chief Engr. Kestin Pondi, General Efe Edafioghor (rtd) offered context for why the company chose to make this investment at this time.
He described the donation as a direct expression of Tantita Security Services’ philosophy — that private security companies operating in Nigeria’s oil sector carry a responsibility that goes beyond their contractual mandates. Protecting the country’s oil and gas infrastructure, he argued, is a national duty, and Tantita has chosen to fulfil that duty not merely with words, but with tangible assets.
“These boats reflect our continued commitment to securing Nigeria’s critical oil and gas infrastructure,” General Edafioghor said. “We did not import them. We built them here, in Nigeria, by Nigerians. That was a deliberate choice.”
He added that by awarding the construction contract to the Nigerian Navy Shipyard, Tantita ensured that skilled Nigerian engineers, welders, naval architects, and technicians were the ones who brought these vessels to life — generating employment, building technical knowledge, and demonstrating what Nigerian industry is capable of when given the opportunity.
Military Receives the Boats with Gratitude and Intent
Receiving the vessels on behalf of the Nigerian military, Major General Emekah expressed sincere appreciation to Tantita Security Services for what he described as a timely and strategically important contribution.
He assured all present that the boats would not be allowed to sit idle. They would be immediately integrated into ongoing security operations in the Niger Delta, deployed alongside existing assets to strengthen the capacity of both the Navy and Army to monitor, patrol, and where necessary, intercept criminal activities across Nigeria’s vast network of waterways.
The Major General’s remarks underscored the military’s awareness of how critical the maritime domain is to national security. Nigeria loses an estimated hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude oil per day to theft and pipeline vandalism — losses that directly undermine government revenues, reduce foreign exchange earnings, and damage the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians.
The Broader Picture: Tantita’s Growing Role in Maritime Security
Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, which was founded with a specific mandate to provide security for oil and gas assets in the Niger Delta, has in recent years emerged as one of the most prominent private security actors in the region. The company operates in close collaboration with the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Army, and other security agencies, combining intelligence-driven operations with physical patrols and community engagement strategies.
The donation of 15 gun boats is the latest in a series of investments and partnerships through which Tantita has sought to complement the efforts of state security agencies — supplementing their capacity at a time when resources are stretched and criminal networks have grown increasingly sophisticated.
Industry observers note that by building the vessels locally, Tantita has also made a statement about the future direction of maritime security in Nigeria: one in which domestic industry plays a central role in equipping the country’s security forces, reducing dependence on imported assets, and keeping economic value within Nigerian borders.
Inspection and Looking Ahead
The ceremony concluded with a formal inspection of the newly commissioned gun boats, with senior military and Tantita officials walking the dock at the Nigerian Navy Shipyard to observe the vessels up close. The inspection served as a visible affirmation of the quality and readiness of the boats, and drew quiet nods of approval from those present who understand what it takes to produce capable, seaworthy vessels in Nigeria.
As the boats prepare to be formally deployed across the waterways of the Niger Delta and beyond, the hope — shared by Tantita, the military, and the communities that live along those waterways — is that their presence will deal a decisive blow to the criminal networks that have for too long treated Nigeria’s oil wealth as their personal resource.
For now, the commissioning of these 15 gun boats stands as evidence that the partnership between Nigeria’s private security sector and its military is deepening, and that the fight to protect the country’s waterways and its oil infrastructure is far from over.
Waterways News will continue to follow developments in Nigeria’s maritime security landscape.
Maritime Security and Safety
IMO Council Mourns Slain Seafarers, Demands Stronger Protection as Maritime Conflicts Deepen
IMO Council Mourns Slain Seafarers, Demands Stronger Protection as Maritime Conflicts Deepen
Dominguez warns merchant ships remain exposed from Hormuz to the Black Sea as 138th Council session ends in London
By Okeoghene Onoriobe | Waterways News
Member states at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) used the opening of the Council’s 138th session to mourn seafarers killed in recent attacks and to demand firmer protection for civilian mariners.
Council met in London from 2 to 6 November, with Russia and Iran putting security in the Black Sea and the Strait of Hormuz at the centre of discussions. On 2 November, Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said commercial shipping remained exposed to attack in the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
The mourning was driven by a run of deaths this year. Five seafarers reportedly died on 29 September during the rescue of the hijacked HONOUR 25 in Somali waters, and several others were seriously injured. In all, 44 seafarers were freed from three vessels. Dominguez noted that 22 seafarers remain captive aboard the ASANA, which was seized earlier this year, and urged continued effort to secure their release.
The Strait of Hormuz remains the deadliest flashpoint. The IMO had verified at least 70 attacks on international shipping there, with 19 seafarers killed, by its late-August assessment. A tally reported by gCaptain put the seafarer death toll at 24 as of 5 November.
Dominguez has repeatedly insisted that seafarers are civilians doing their jobs. He has said they should never become casualties of conflicts to which they are not a party.
Member states echoed the call. Liberia renewed its appeal for seafarer protection and freedom of navigation, and Indonesia said seafarer protection and safety of navigation must be a shared priority.
The session also dealt with leadership. Council backed a second four-year term for Dominguez, subject to approval by the IMO Assembly in 2027. The term would run from 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2031.
Nigeria Watch
Nigeria has more at stake than a distant diplomatic debate. Hormuz disruption has fed through to freight rates, war-risk insurance and port costs for Nigerian importers and shippers. Piracy off Somalia and the Gulf of Aden is a reminder that the Gulf of Guinea’s own security gains, including the Deep Blue Project, cannot be taken for granted.
The Council session also bears on Nigeria’s IMO seat. Abuja has pushed seafarer welfare and maritime security as part of its diplomacy, and the Council’s message gives that agenda more weight. The test is whether Nigeria backs its advocacy abroad with welfare protections, training and safety enforcement for its own mariners and for the informal waterway operators represented by WABOTAN and ATBOWATON.
For those operators, the lesson from London is that protection is a shared responsibility, and it has to reach the people who work on the inland water, not just those on ocean-going ships.
Nigeria Unveils Home-Built ADX-Barra 200 Autonomous Vessel at AFRIDEX 2026
Arridex, DICON joint venture Helagon delivers country’s first indigenously developed unmanned surface vessels%
By Ighoyota Onaibre | Waterways News
Nigeria has unveiled its first indigenously developed autonomous surface vessel, the ADX-Barra 200. Arridex Group, formerly RusselSmith Group, built it through Helagon, its defence joint venture with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
The vessel was unveiled on 26 October at the inaugural Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX 2026) at Eko Atlantic, Lagos. The exhibition ran from 26 to 29 October.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. He said the administration prioritises defence industry growth because a nation is more secure when it can build and maintain its own capability. He described the vessel as that capability taking shape, designed and built by local engineers in partnership with DICON, and said it deserves government support and the confidence of the armed forces.
ADX-Barra 200
Arridex Group CEO Kayode Adeleke presented the vessel. He said Helagon was set up to design autonomous systems and that the ADX-Barra 200 is the result. For the forces that will use it, he called it a force multiplier.
The ADX-Barra 200 is one of two platforms in the ADX-Barra series launched at the exhibition. The other is the ADX-Barra 100. Arridex says both were designed, built and integrated in Nigeria by its engineers.
Adeleke tied the platforms to Gulf of Guinea security. He said the region’s waters carry its trade, support its coastal communities and hold much of its energy wealth, and that protecting them calls for capability the region can build, sustain and improve itself. He invited the armed services and other stakeholders to arrange demonstrations and to help shape later generations of the vessels.
Others at the unveiling included Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr Obafemi Hamzat and the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle. DICON Director-General Major General Babatunde Ibrahim Alaya, Helagon Chief Operating Officer Engr. Precious Omo-Agege and Arridex senior management were also present.
Arridex has not published the vessel’s technical specifications, including its length, endurance, payload and sensors. Both vessels remained on display at the exhibition.
NIGERIA WATCH
A home-built answer to a long-standing maritime problem: Nigeria’s waters have long needed more patrol capacity than its platforms and budgets can supply. A locally designed vessel that “can be supported, adapted and improved by the team that made it,” as Arridex puts it, addresses one persistent weakness. Imported hulls and systems often sit idle for want of spares, support and trained hands.
The questions that matter next: Unveilings are not deployments. The Navy, NIMASA’s Deep Blue Project and other agencies will want to know the vessel’s range, endurance, sensors and sea-state limits. They will also want to know whether it can work in the Gulf of Guinea. Until Arridex publishes specifications and arranges trials, the “game-changing” claim remains the company’s own.
Beyond defence: Waterways News readers should watch whether this technology filters into civil uses such as inland waterway surveillance, anti-vandalism patrols and search and rescue. The country’s inland operators, including those represented by WABOTAN and ATBOWATON, face insecurity and safety gaps that policy announcements have not closed. Local manufacturing capacity matters to them only if it eventually reaches the waterways where they work.
The accountability test: The industrial-policy argument is sound. It is build locally and maintain locally. It will be judged by procurement, deployment and sustained operation, not by launch-day speeches.
Editor's Choice
Australia Bars Repeat-Offender Bulk Carrier for 90 Days Over Falsified Crew Rest Records
Australia Bars Repeat-Offender Bulk Carrier for 90 Days Over Falsified Crew Rest Records
By Okeoghene Onoriobe | Waterways News
Australian maritime authorities have banned the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Wooyang Venus from its ports and waters for 90 days. Inspectors found that the ship’s crew work and rest-hour records had been deliberately falsified to hide excessive working hours.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) boarded the vessel at the Port of Newcastle on 29 October after a complaint under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). Its port state control inspection found that the records did not match the hours the crew actually worked. The ship left Newcastle on 31 October for Korea, and the ban took effect afterwards.
This is the vessel’s third brush with Australian enforcement in under three years. AMSA detained it in August 2026 when crew hours were neither properly recorded nor monitored. It was first detained in December 2023, after a complaint from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).
That inspection found falsified hours records, poor food provisions and an allegation that the master had assaulted a crew member. AMSA’s annual MLC report says the operator then submitted a corrective action plan covering repatriation, better provisions and training on rest-hour compliance. The latest findings suggest those measures did not take hold.
AMSA Executive Director for Maritime Safety and Environmental Compliance, Greg Witherall, said falsifying records meant to protect seafarers undermines both crew welfare and ship safety. He warned that fatigue dulls judgement and slows reaction times, raising the risk of collisions, groundings and injuries, particularly during navigation and watchkeeping.
The ban was imposed under Section 246 of Australia’s Navigation Act 2012. AMSA cited the deliberate falsification, the repeated breaches and doubts over the effectiveness of the owner’s and operator’s safety management systems.
Nigeria Watch
The case matters for Nigeria for three reasons:
Records are the enforcement tool. Fatigue rules only work if rest-hour logs can be trusted. Australia treated falsification as a safety-system failure, not a paperwork lapse, and banned the ship rather than detaining it again.
Repeat offenders need escalating penalties. Two detentions and a corrective plan did not change this operator’s behaviour. Nigerian port state control should ask whether its own follow-up on repeat deficiencies has real consequences.
Seafarer welfare is a Nigerian issue. Nigerian seafarers serve on foreign-flagged ships, and those working boats and ferries on domestic waters face fatigue and welfare gaps too, often with no records at all.
The MLC regime Australia is enforcing shows what accountability looks like. It is the benchmark NIMASA and the inland regulators should be measured against, and one this publication will keep pressing.
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