Oil & Gas
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The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, is seeking greater security collaboration over its assets with the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Police Force
| By Anayo Ezugwu | Sep. 1, 2014 @ 01:00 GMT |
IN order to protect its assets in all parts of the country, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, is seeking greater collaboration with the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Police Force. Speaking during courtesy visits to Kenneth Minimah, chief of army staff and Suleiman Abba, acting Inspector General of Police, Joseph Dawha, group managing director, NNPC, expressed the desire of the corporation to enhance existing cordial relationship between the NNPC and the security forces towards the achievement of efficient protection of vital oil and gas assets.
Dawha expressed gratitude to the security chiefs for their role in providing the much needed cover for the smooth operations of the NNPC despite mounting security challenges. At the Army Headquarters, he said his visit was meant to renew the existing cordial relationship between the two organisations.
According to him, the NNPC would continue to collaborate with the Nigerian Army which has been providing security support for the corporation’s assets in the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors. The GMD lauded the role of the Nigerian Army in the security Joint Task Force, JTF, extolling the performance of the outfit in protecting NNPC assets in Port Harcourt, Benin, Auchi and Chad Basin where one of the corporation’s strategic business units, integrated data services limited, is currently engaged in seismic data acquisition activities.
Dawha noted the role of the Nigerian Army Engineering Corps in clearing and providing security for NNPC Right of Way across the Country. He enjoined the Nigerian Army to continue to provide security support in the fight against crude oil theft which he said has had a negative impact on the nation’s resources in recent times.
While welcoming the NNPC boss, Minimah expressed satisfaction in the collaborative bond between NNPC and the Nigerian Army. He said the two organisations would continue to have common grounds of cooperation for the economic development of Nigeria. He said providing security to national assets including those of NNPC was one of the first lines of duty of the Army assuring the GMD and his team of sustained support.
Minimah appreciated the recent interventions from the various tiers of government in providing appropriate platforms to enhance the Army’s effectiveness in providing security for NNPC assets, adding that the Army would strive to improve on its performance for the development of the country.
Before the visit to the Army Headquarters, the GMD was at the Louis Edet House where he paid tribute to the officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force for their untiring support in providing security to NNPC’s assets and facilities across the country. “We need to deepen and strengthen the close ties between NNPC and the Nigerian Police Force for the socio-economic growth and stability of the country,” he said.
In his response, the IGP said the Nigerian Police would continue to accord high priority to the protection of oil and gas facilities across the country. “I have a new team in place and I assure you we will do whatever we need to do to give you better services in terms in terms of pipeline protection,” he said.
The NNPC team on the courtesy visits included Attahiru Yusuf, group executive director, Business Development Directorate, Dan Efebo, group executive director, Corporate Services and Fred Owotorufa, general manager, security.
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