The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), has called for a more coordinated and integrated approach to safeguarding Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure.
The defence minister stressed the need for stronger collaboration among government agencies, industry operators and host communities.
Musa made the call during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held at the Headquarters of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Speaking at the meeting, the minister identified vandalism, crude oil theft, sabotage and ageing infrastructure as persistent threats to the nation’s critical oil assets.
He warned that emerging security challenges, including the use of explosives in pipeline attacks, require a more proactive and coordinated response.
He noted that “effective protection of strategic national assets will depend on sustained collaboration, enhanced intelligence sharing and the deployment of modern surveillance technologies to tackle evolving security threats”.
Musa reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to protecting the country’s oil and gas infrastructure, describing it as critical to Nigeria’s economic growth, investor confidence and national development.
Participants at the meeting attributed recent improvements in crude oil production to increased cooperation among security agencies, industry operators and host communities.
Senior military officials also reiterated their commitment to sustaining joint operations under Operation Delta Safe to ensure comprehensive protection of oil and gas facilities across the Niger Delta.
At the end of the meeting, stakeholders resolved to strengthen a proactive, intelligence-driven and technology-enabled security framework while sustaining engagement with host communities to foster trust and promote long-term stability in the region.
Blessing Ibunge
