Defence Chief Solicites Collaboration With Governor’s of Oil Producing States,  Stakeholders

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General LEO Irabor, has solicited sustainable collaboration among all stakeholders in the value chain of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.

He made this remark in Abuja the Nations capital, during a meeting with the Governors of oil and gas producing states, heads of security agencies, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited as well as CEOs of the Upstream and Downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry.

The meeting, which was mandated by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, was to consider a framework for reversing dwindling oil production occasioned by oil theft, illegal oil  bunkering and pipeline vandalism, amongst other economic crimes.

General Irabor said the nation’s economy was bleeding as oil production had become abysmally low thereby adversely affecting the national economy and that of the oil producing states alike.

He added that, environmental degradation and health challenges thrown up by pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering and refining, also impinged on the wellbeing of the communities, due to pollution of the waters, land and air, thereby giving rise to a cycle of poverty and diseases.

Accordingly, General Irabor said he  decided to lead the heads of the security and intelligence agencies as well as the CEOs of the oil and gas regulatory bodies to engage with the Governors of  the concerned states.

‘So, given that the issues demand quick action as mandated by Mr President, we have come to engage with you’, he said.

The resultant framework from the engagement, he added, would involve the whole of society and that, it would be a win-win situation for all stakeholders, including the host communities.

He further addressed the Governors that, ‘as critical stakeholders to address the current challenges, you will be playing a crucial part’ in the industry-wide security of the hydro-carbon infrastructure and overall oil production capacity of the country.