In a bid to sustain the recent upward trajectory in Nigeria’s crude oil output, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Federal Ministry of Defence have struck a partnership to deploy non-kinetic interventions to secure critical oil and gas infrastructure.
The strategic alignment, reached during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Ministry of Defence to the NUPRC headquarters in Abuja, focuses on enhancing production stability through community engagement rather than purely military force.
The collaborative push comes on the heels of improved production figures. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, Commission Chief Executive of the NUPRC, noted that Nigeria’s crude oil production hovered near the 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) mark last month, a milestone she attributed to ongoing synergy with security agencies.
“Today, we are benefiting from those efforts. Last month, we recorded production of nearly 1.8 million barrels per day throughout the month,” Eyesan stated.
According to the NUPRC boss, sustained capital injection into security, technology deployment, and human resource management has been vital to curbing crude oil theft. However, she emphasised that securing long-term investments in the upstream sector requires airtight production assurance.
“As we look to the future, we desire to grow production and must have assurances that security threats can be effectively managed. We can only achieve this through stronger collaboration with security agencies and industry stakeholders,” Eyesan added.
To modernise monitoring frameworks, the NUPRC plans to co-opt advanced technologies, including drone surveillance, to oversee Nigeria’s vast oil and gas footprint. The regulator will lead the formulation of a new governance structure for this security framework, working closely with international and local oil companies (IOCs and NOCs) to ensure operational sustainability.
In his remarks, Christopher Musa, Minister of Defence, who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant, Major General Ekubi, explained that the new strategy heavily relies on grassroots engagement, specifically sports-based youth initiatives.
The Ministry of Defence is shifting towards a non-kinetic national security model to tackle the root socio-economic causes of pipeline vandalism and unrest in the Niger Delta.
“One of the best ways to engage youths in oil-producing areas is through sports-based interventions,” Ekubi said, noting that the programme would also feature structured initiatives tailored for persons with disabilities.
The Ministry noted that the strategy aligns with the Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT) provisions under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
By fostering alternative economic pathways and community inclusivity, the initiative aims to de-escalate tensions in host communities, providing a stable environment for operators to ramp up Nigeria’s daily output.
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