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By Phillip Nwosu
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime and oil sectors have expressed confidence that the Federal Government’s oil production target of 2.5 million barrels per day (bpd) is achievable through sustained collaboration to curb crude oil theft, sabotage and other operational disruptions.
This position formed the centrepiece of strategic engagements held by the Central Naval Command with key maritime stakeholders and major oil exploration companies.
The engagements were led by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim, and were aimed at strengthening maritime security to safeguard Nigeria’s blue economy and critical economic assets.
Speaking during the meetings, Rear Admiral Ibrahim stressed that the Nigerian Navy’s primary responsibility is to provide a secure and enabling maritime environment, noting that effective maritime security is a shared responsibility between the Navy and industry operators.
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He assured stakeholders of the sustained support of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, towards optimising security deployments within the Central Naval Command’s Area of Responsibility through strategic leadership and the provision of requisite operational platforms.
Stakeholders agreed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate is achievable if all parties synergise efforts to eliminate crude oil theft, sabotage and operational disruptions. Rear Admiral Ibrahim emphasised that the Navy’s primary responsibility is to provide an enabling secure environment, noting that maritime security remains a shared responsibility between the Navy and industry operators.
The engagements also served as a forum to review the evolving maritime security landscape, with participants expressing optimism that strengthened naval leadership, enhanced inter-agency cooperation and closer industry collaboration would significantly contribute to achieving Nigeria’s maritime economic and production objectives.
