By Ayomide Otitoju
The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Mele Kyari, has praised the military’s ongoing efforts in combating crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, which have significantly contributed to the recent surge in the nation’s crude oil production.
This commendation was made public in a statement issued on Tuesday by NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye. The statement followed a courtesy visit to the NNPC Towers in Abuja by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, accompanied by senior military officers.
“The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Mr. Mele Kyari, has called on the military to sustain the war against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, noting that the current onslaught against these illegal activities has led to improved growth in the nation’s crude oil production,” the statement read.
Kyari emphasized the importance of continued security engagement, stating, “We have reached a new peak in production that we haven’t seen in the last three years. This achievement is directly linked to the sustained efforts by the armed forces and other security agencies to protect our critical assets, particularly the pipeline infrastructure in specified areas where we are working closely with these agencies. The results are already evident in the increased production.”
The NNPCL chief expressed his appreciation for General Musa and his team’s dedication to safeguarding the nation’s hydrocarbon assets, particularly in the Niger Delta region. He highlighted the broader significance of these efforts, stating that they are vital not only to Nigeria but also to the global energy community.
Kyari also voiced his confidence in the military’s ability to fulfill the Presidential mandate to address security-related challenges impacting crude oil production. “Components of this effort that depend on security are being effectively managed by you. Your coordinated and focused response is paving the way for improved security engagement, particularly in the Niger Delta,” he said.
During the visit, General Musa introduced the newly formed Monitoring Team, which will be responsible for interfacing with NNPCL and other stakeholders in the oil-producing regions to secure the nation’s critical hydrocarbon infrastructure. He assured that the military is committed to sustaining the fight against oil theft and vandalism, while also enhancing the performance and productivity of the troops.
General Musa stressed the importance of ramping up production for a prosperous economy and emphasized the need for collaboration among intelligence agencies, private security, state governments, and host communities. “Working in silos won’t give us the best results. I want to assure you that we will collaborate with the necessary stakeholders to achieve our set targets as mandated by Mr. President,” he affirmed.
