NUPRC and Defence Ministry Forge Strategic Alliance to Bolster Oil Asset Security with Advanced Surveillance and Community Engagement
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Federal Ministry of Defence are set to deepen their collaboration to fortify Nigeria’s critical oil and gas infrastructure. This enhanced partnership will leverage non-kinetic interventions, aiming to ensure production stability and foster robust community engagement, a move poised to significantly impact the upstream sector’s security and investment climate.
This strategic alignment was solidified during a recent courtesy visit by a delegation from the Ministry of Defence to the NUPRC headquarters in Abuja. Commission Chief Executive, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, underscored the enduring relationship between the Commission and security agencies in combating crude oil theft and safeguarding national 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, attributing these gains to sustained investment in security, technology, and human resources.
Eyesan emphasised the imperative to further strengthen production assurance as Nigeria pursues increased output and seeks to attract new upstream investments. “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 articulated. The NUPRC chief specifically highlighted the critical role of deploying advanced technologies, including drone surveillance, to effectively monitor the vast operational footprint of oil and gas activities across the nation. The Commission plans to collaborate with industry operators to refine and champion this new security framework, with NUPRC spearheading stakeholder galvanisation and the establishment of a sustainable governance structure.
Representing the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), Senior Special Assistant to the Minister, Major General Ekubi, outlined the Ministry’s introduction of a non-kinetic national security intervention model. This model is designed to promote stability within Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector. A key component of this strategy will involve sports-based youth engagement initiatives, aimed at addressing the underlying causes of insecurity in oil-producing communities. “One of the best ways to engage youths in oil-producing areas is through sports-based interventions,” Major General Ekubi remarked, noting that these programmes will also cater to persons with disabilities. This initiative is designed to align with the host community development objectives enshrined in the Petroleum Industry Act, fostering peace, enhancing community relations, and creating alternative avenues for economic empowerment.
