President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given marching orders to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, to curb the menace of crude oil theft and vandalism in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria in the shortest possible time. Tinubu emphasized that the order had become necessary as oil theft had become a national issue that needed to be surmounted to boost oil production in the country.
The Group Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, made this known in an interview with journalists at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, after a meeting of all security and intelligence agency heads convened by the Chief of Defence Staff. Kyari highlighted that achieving the desired economic stability would be impossible without curbing oil theft and other crimes in the Niger Delta region. “We are here to engage with the CDS based on the directive of the president,” he said.
He added, “The president has directed the CDS to take control of the crisis we are having in the Niger Delta operational area. Oil theft and pipeline vandalism have become a national issue, the president has directed the CDS to contend this within the shortest possible time so that we can restore national production to the level the president and the country are expecting.
“To do this, he needs the coordination and cooperation of all armed forces, the police, the DIA, the DSS among others. It is the survival of our country that is at stake today. Without restoring oil and gas production, we cannot have the economic stability that we desire. The president is clearly focused on this to deliver value to our country. It is impossible to do this without settling the crisis around our operational areas.”
Speaking further, the NNPCL boss said, “We are already seeing progress, we are seeing substantial value that is being created by the coordination but we are very convinced that a solution is in sight.”
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, also vowed to eliminate all acts of vandalism and other criminal activities throughout the South-South region. He stated, “The truth about it is that whatever is happening in the South-South has been ongoing for such a very long time. And we feel it is high time that it is stopped. What we are promising Nigerians is that henceforth, the entire South-South will be cleared of any acts of vandalism or criminality within the general area.”
“As we said, the President has given us a mandate to ensure that we secure the entire South-South and to enable NNPC and others to carry out their tasks so that we can have improved production. We know that Nigeria relies so much on what we produce. And so we want to use this medium to appeal to the communities, to have an understanding.”
Gen. Musa called on the host communities to trust and give the security agencies the needed support, stating that the operations of the security agencies would be harmonized to achieve the task given to him by the president. “Yes, we know trust has been a problem. But they can trust us, they can trust the government, that we want to do things differently. Everyone will be carried along.”
“Everyone has a role to play. It is not only for the security agencies alone. We need the communities to understand that pipeline vandalism and all the hazards being caused are also affecting them directly.”
The Niger Delta region, rich in oil and gas resources, has been plagued by incidents of oil theft and pipeline vandalism for decades. These criminal activities have not only hindered the country’s oil production but also led to significant environmental damage and loss of revenue. The government’s renewed focus on tackling these issues underscores the critical importance of the oil sector to Nigeria’s economy.
The directive from President Tinubu is seen as a significant step towards addressing these long-standing challenges. By empowering the Chief of Defence Staff to coordinate the efforts of all security and intelligence agencies, the government aims to bring a unified approach to combating oil theft and vandalism. This coordination is expected to enhance the effectiveness of security operations in the region, leading to improved protection of oil infrastructure and increased oil production.
Furthermore, the involvement of local communities is crucial to the success of these efforts. The security agencies are seeking the cooperation and support of the host communities, emphasizing that everyone has a role to play in safeguarding the nation’s resources. By fostering trust and collaboration between the government, security agencies, and local communities, the aim is to create a sustainable solution to the problem of oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
The economic implications of curbing oil theft are significant. Increased oil production would lead to higher revenue for the government, which could be invested in various development projects across the country. It would also contribute to economic stability, creating a more favorable environment for investment and growth. The success of this initiative could serve as a model for addressing other security challenges in the country, demonstrating the effectiveness of a coordinated and collaborative approach.
In conclusion, President Tinubu’s directive to the Chief of Defence Staff to curb crude oil theft and vandalism in the Niger Delta region is a crucial move towards securing Nigeria’s economic future. The coordinated efforts of all security and intelligence agencies, combined with the support of local communities, are expected to bring about significant improvements in the protection of oil infrastructure and increase oil production. This initiative highlights the government’s commitment to addressing the nation’s security challenges and promoting economic stability.
