The Federal Government on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to improving security in the Niger Delta, saying sustained military operations have reduced piracy and armed robbery and helped boost crude oil production.
Defence Minister Christopher Musa disclosed this after a closed-door meeting with security agencies, oil industry stakeholders, regulators and host community representatives at the 6 Division Headquarters of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The meeting, held at the directive of President Bola Tinubu, reviewed security efforts in the oil-producing region and explored ways to increase crude oil production through stronger collaboration among government agencies, oil companies and host communities.
Musa said security in the Niger Delta had improved significantly but acknowledged that more work remains.
"It's been good. It could be better, but members of the Armed Forces are working tirelessly to ensure that the area is secured," he said.
The minister said attacks on maritime assets have declined, creating a more stable environment for oil production.
"Issues of piracy, armed robbery and all these have really gone down. Production has improved. We are far above our oil contract production, and we are aiming very, very high," Musa said.
He said host communities participated in the meeting to ensure their concerns were reflected in government policies aimed at protecting oil infrastructure and increasing production.
"We invited the communities so we could hear their challenges. The President is determined to ensure that the oil-producing areas are well secured and that the communities are happy and well taken care of, so that we can have more production," he said.
According to Musa, participants identified stronger trust between oil companies and host communities as essential to sustaining security gains.
He said the Armed Forces would continue to deepen civil-military relations and stakeholder engagement across the region.
The defence minister also called on Nigerians to support security agencies by providing credible intelligence, saying community cooperation remains critical to tackling terrorism, banditry and other forms of criminality.
"This is a Nigerian challenge. Terrorism is now a worldwide affair, and we need everybody to be on board. The terrorists and bandits live within the communities.
If people don't provide information and continue to support them with logistics, it creates this atmosphere of insecurity," he said.
He expressed confidence that ongoing operations would continue to improve the country's security landscape.
"Working together with the security forces, we'll achieve—and we're already achieving—so much," Musa added.
The meeting brought together senior military officers, security agencies, regulators, international and indigenous oil companies, and representatives of oil-producing communities.
Among those present was the Paramount Ruler of Elem Kalabari, Asari Dokubo, who described the engagement as a positive step toward improving security and increasing crude oil production.
"Our meeting with the Minister of Defence on oil and gas-related matters was very encouraging. It was a step in the right direction," Dokubo said.
He urged the Federal Government to sustain the initiative, saying consistent commitment would deliver lasting results.
"If they keep following this new direction, a lot is going to happen. It's not rocket science. It's something that has to do with commitment," he said.
Dokubo also called on oil operators to adopt best practices, warning that disruptions to crude oil production reduce government revenue and slow national development.
Nigeria currently produces about 1.5 million barrels of crude oil per day.
The Federal Government is targeting daily production of 2.5 million barrels through improved security, stronger stakeholder collaboration and increased protection of critical oil infrastructure.
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