By Miriam Humbe
The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil) Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri has said that his Ministry would collaborate with the Nigerian Military to reduce pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft to the barest minimum.
Sen. Lokpobiri said this when he hosted the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa and other members of the Armed Forces in his office in Abuja.
Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Oluwakemi Ogunmakinwa (Mrs.) revealed this in a statement signed on Friday.
The Minister pointed out that the quickest way to solve Nigeria’s economic problems was through an increase in the oil revenue.
Lokpobiri said: “If we ramp up crude oil production, we shall fund our budget and finance other sectors of the economy”.
Lokpobiri said that investment and security were very strategic to the development of the nation and in line with the mandate of the Ministry.
To manage the oil sector effectively and efficiently, Lokpobiri said the Ministry and its Agencies would work with the Military to solve the problems of insecurity hindering crude oil production.
The Minister said: “There is no country in the world that does not prioritise security and investment in its oil assets.
“Part of our objectives is to reduce pipeline vandalism and oil theft to the barest minimum to ensure that the country benefits from the God- given resources that we have.
“Our commitment to you today is that we will work very closely with you and we will give all the support that is needed to make sure that we reduce this menace of pipeline vandalism, illegal refining and oil theft”.
The Minister congratulated General Musa on his appointment as the Chief of Defence Staff and expressed optimism that the General would bring his wealth of experience to bear in curbing the wave of insecurity in the country.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa assured the Minister that in line with the mandate of the Armed Forces, the Military would support the government in ensuring that oil resources and infrastructures were adequately protected.
Gen. Musa said that the Military was determined to end pipeline vandalization and oil theft in the Niger Delta region to boost the country’s oil production
The Defence Chief informed the Minister that his office would soon organise a National Security Summit to brainstorm on the way forward on the emerging security issues in the country.
