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From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC Ltd., Mr. Mele Kyari, has passionately appealed to the military to sustain and intensify their efforts in combating crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, acknowledging that the ongoing military onslaught has led to significant improvements in the nation’s crude oil production.
Kyari made this appeal during a courtesy visit from the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and senior military officers at the NNPC Towers in Abuja on Tuesday.
“I urge for a continued and enhanced security engagement,” Kyari emphasised.
Continuing, he said: “We have reached a new production peak, a level we haven’t seen in the last three years. This remarkable achievement is directly linked to the relentless efforts of the armed forces and other security agencies in safeguarding our critical infrastructure, particularly the pipelines in regions where we have collaborated closely with these agencies. The results are evident in the increased production we’re now witnessing.”
Kyari hailed General Musa and his team for their unwavering dedication to securing Nigeria’s vital hydrocarbon assets, particularly in the Niger Delta region, over the past months. He stressed that these achievements are not only pivotal for Nigeria but also carry significant implications for the global energy community.
He expressed confidence that the Chief of Defence Staff and his team would successfully fulfill the Presidential mandate to address security-related challenges that have impacted the nation’s crude oil production.
“The security components of this effort are being expertly managed under your leadership. Your coordinated and focused response is laying the groundwork for enhanced security engagement, especially in the Niger Delta,” Kyari noted.
In his remarks, General Musa explained that the visit aimed to introduce the newly established Monitoring Team to NNPC Ltd.
This team will be responsible for engaging with the company and other stakeholders in oil-producing regions to secure the nation’s critical hydrocarbon infrastructure.
The CDS reiterated his commitment to improving security and the operational effectiveness of his troops, assuring that the military would sustain its offensive against oil theft and continually assess and enhance the troops’ capabilities to boost productivity.
General Musa highlighted the importance of increasing crude oil production for Nigeria’s economic prosperity and pledged to work closely with intelligence agencies, private security firms, state governments, and host communities to achieve this goal.
“Operating in silos won’t yield the best results,” he stated. “I want to assure you that we will collaborate with all necessary stakeholders to meet our targets as directed by Mr. President.”
The meeting reflected a unified approach to addressing the security challenges facing Nigeria’s oil industry, with both the NNPC Ltd and the military demonstrating a shared commitment to protecting and advancing the nation’s critical energy infrastructure.
