Oil & Gas Assets: Military promises maximum security; Nigeria loses 200 bpd
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Major General Lucky Irabor, has promised to galvanize the military to provide maximum security for the nation’s oil and gas assets as Nigeria loses 200 barrels of crude per day (bpd).
The CDS gave the commitment at a meeting with the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, and his top management team at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking while receiving the NNPC Boss, General Irabor commended Mallam Kyari for initiating the engagement:
“I am delighted that you made this effort, and I tell you that the Armed Forces of Nigeria will collaborate with you to protect NNPC’s assets”.
Today, I had a meeting with the GMD NNPC and his team, as well as Branch Chiefs of Defence Headquarters in a bid to ensure that the Nation's economy infrastructure is adequately protected. The AFN will not relent in ensuring that lives and property are safe guarded. pic.twitter.com/uanCtifwg4
— Maj Gen LEO Irabor (@CDS_Nig) February 24, 2021
General Irabor, who acknowledged the significant role of the oil and gas sector to the economy, said there was need for collaboration between the NNPC and the Armed Forces to protect oil and gas facilities, which he described as the critical national assets.
“It is my intention to co-operate maximally with you and to give necessary instructions to all officers in the Armed Forces given that our existence, economically, rests almost solely on the NNPC, and to that extent, we must do everything possible to give you everything that you require,” the CDS stated.
PRESS RELEASE:
CDS Pledges Military Support for Protection of Oil, Gas Assets
The Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Lucky Irabor, has promised to galvanize the military to provide maximum security for the nation’s oil & gas assets.
Read more https://t.co/FjrGQa3pRC pic.twitter.com/rNIUWR4qfM
— NNPC Group (@NNPCgroup) February 24, 2021
Speaking earlier, the NNPC Group Managing Director commended the security agencies for their support and called for more protection for NNPC’s operational assets and personnel.
He disclosed that though petroleum products theft on the System 2B Pipeline has reduced considerably due to support from the security agencies, the nation was still losing about 200,000 barrels of crude oil daily to theft and vandalism.
“We have two sets of losses: one coming from our products and the other coming from crude oil. In terms of crude losses, it is still going on.
“On the average, we are losing 200,000 barrels of crude every day,” Mallam Kyari stated.
Amaka E. Nliam
