The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Federal Ministry of Defence have joined forces to secure Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure and curb oil theft.
Moving beyond traditional military force, the new partnership will focus on non-kinetic interventions, community engagement, and advanced technology to stabilize national oil production.
The agreement was solidified during a strategic visit by a Ministry of Defence delegation to the NUPRC headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement by Eniola Akinkuotu, Head, Media and Corporate Communications, NUPRC, the Commission Chief Executive, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, highlighted the longstanding collaboration between the commission and national security agencies in combating crude oil theft.
She noted that sustained investment in security, technology deployment and human resources has yielded significant positive results, such as a rebound in oil output, with Nigeria hitting almost 1.8 million barrels per day last month.
“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 said the NUPRC aims to scale up production even further to attract fresh foreign investment into the upstream sector.
She disclosed that the commission plans to deploy advanced technologies, including widespread drone surveillance, to monitor the country’s vast network of oil and gas pipelines.
“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,” Eyesan stated.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), who was represented by 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.
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He stated that instead of relying solely on military might, the Ministry of Defence is targeting the root causes of regional unrest by keeping local youth positively engaged.
This strategy, according to him, involves structured, sports-based initiatives designed to empower local youth in oil-producing communities.
He added that the initiatives will also include tailored programmes for persons with disabilities.
The initiative, according to the ministry, aligns with the host community development goals of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), fostering peace and offering sustainable economic pathways for residents.
Victor Ezeja is a Nigerian journalist skilled in producing insightful news analyses, feature stories, and interviews that simplify complex issues and drive informed public discourse. His work combines rigorous research, balanced reporting, and compelling storytelling to highlight developments shaping industries and society. Victor, who holds a Master's Degree in Mass Communication, specializes in energy, aviation, business, and economic reporting. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X