The Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Christopher Musa, has directed security agencies involved in the fight against oil bunkering activities in the Niger Delta to put an end to the criminal activities within two weeks.
The defence chief made the order while speaking at a meeting with security heads in Operation Delta Safe at the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
According to Gen. Musa, President Bola Tinubu is displeased with the decline in oil production.
The decline, Gen. Musa, said is unhealthy for the nation’s economy, and security agencies must live up to expectations to halt the menace. He warned that any security personnel found sabotaging government efforts would be prosecuted.
He said, “We have the Minister of Petroleum, oil, on the ground to inform the troops that it’s high time we stopped the act of oil theft in the Niger Delta, that is the essence. I want to assure Nigerians that we are all working together with all the security forces, the NNPC, all the IOCs to ensure that we stop this menace of pipeline vandalism, oil theft.
“All we need is to ensure that the companies are supported to make sure they produce maximally. Like the minister mentioned, we are targeting 2.5m barrels per day, that is achievable, that is what we are targeting and I want to assure you that we will achieve that.
“I am giving the Commanders two weeks ultimatum to bring these criminal activities to an end. Two weeks is two weeks to bring to an end all oil theft activities. It is not that we are going to get the 2.5m barrels over night but if we can stop the criminality and then we can move forward.
“This is to ensure that we assist relevant companies to ensure that production improves towards 2.5m barrels per day. They have a task and Mr President is not happy and it’s their responsibility. So the President has given them six months for maximum result but you the commanders have two weeks to halt oil theft. It’s not going to be business as usual because we can stop oil theft if we are determined.
“You are all part of the problem. The economy is not doing well and the only sure way is to improve production or there will be consequences. It is what we can stop.”
