The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Federal Ministry of Defence have agreed to deepen collaboration on the protection of Nigeria's oil and gas infrastructure through non-kinetic interventions aimed at enhancing production stability and community engagement.
The commitment was made during a recent courtesy visit by a delegation from the Ministry of Defence to the Commission's headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking during the meeting, the Commission Chief Executive of NUPRC, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, highlighted the long-standing partnership between the Commission and security agencies in tackling crude oil theft and safeguarding critical energy assets.
"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.
She noted that sustained investment in security, technology deployment and human resources had been instrumental in achieving these gains.
The NUPRC boss stressed the need to further strengthen production assurance as Nigeria seeks to increase output and attract new investments into the upstream sector.
"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," she added.
The NUPRC chief also underscored the importance of deploying advanced technologies, including drone surveillance, to monitor the extensive footprint of oil and gas operations across the country.
She disclosed that the Commission would work with industry operators to refine and promote the new security framework, with NUPRC taking a leading role in galvanising stakeholders and establishing a governance structure to ensure long-term sustainability.
Representing the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister, Major General Ekubi, said the Ministry was introducing a non-kinetic national security intervention model focused on promoting stability in Nigeria's upstream petroleum sector.
He explained that sports-based youth engagement initiatives would form a key component of the strategy, aimed at addressing the root causes of insecurity in oil-producing communities.
"One of the best ways to engage youths in oil-producing areas is through sports-based interventions," he said, adding that the initiative would include structured programmesfor persons with disabilities.
The initiative, the Ministry said, aligns with the host community development objectives of the Petroleum Industry Act and is expected to foster peace, strengthen community relations and create alternative pathways for economic empowerment.
Eniola Akinkuotu
Head, Media and Corporate Communications