The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has called for a non-kinetic approach to boosting Nigeria’s crude oil production to 2.5 million barrels per day (BPD), emphasizing the need for collaboration with local communities to protect oil facilities from vandalism.
Speaking after a closed-door meeting with key stakeholders, including the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), international oil companies (IOCs), security agencies, and oil-producing states, General Musa stressed that community engagement has been a successful strategy in other regions of Nigeria, such as the North East, North West, and North Central. According to him, when communities have a stake in the success of oil facilities, they are more likely to protect these assets from sabotage, which remains a major challenge in the Niger Delta.
“Non-kinetic efforts have proven more successful because when people see that the facility benefits them as much as it does others, they are more invested in its protection,” General Musa stated. “Our goal is to encourage communities to take ownership, as this will significantly reduce the likelihood of vandalism and theft.”
It is worth noting that the meeting, held at the 6 Division Army Headquarters in Port Harcourt, was convened to reassess the situation in the Niger Delta and evaluate how security measures could be strengthened to improve oil production. General Musa noted that recent efforts by the armed forces had led to a rise in crude oil production, but more collective action is needed to meet the ambitious target set by President Bola Tinubu.
“The production of 2.5 million BPD is critical for Nigeria’s socio-economic growth,” General Musa explained. “We must continue to work together to meet this target, as it is essential for the future of our economy.”
General Musa’s comments came in the wake of ongoing challenges with pipeline vandalism and crude theft, which continue to undermine Nigeria’s oil production capacity. The CDS urged Nigerians, particularly those living in oil-producing areas, to cooperate with the government and security agencies to ensure the success of the oil production goal.
Also present at the meeting, Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, represented by Mr. Olaleran Ogunleye, Executive Vice President of Gas, Power, and New Energy at NNPCL, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to working with the armed forces and other stakeholders to achieve the production target. Kyari stressed the importance of synergy and collaboration among all parties involved, acknowledging that while progress has been made, there is still room for improvement.
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Representing the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, the Director of Energy Security in the NSA’s office, echoed the government’s commitment to ensuring that Nigeria’s vast oil and gas resources contribute to the betterment of the country’s citizens.
It bears mentioning that the CDS and other stakeholders remain optimistic that, through cooperation with local communities and continued security efforts, the target of producing 2.5 million barrels of crude oil per day can be achieved.
