The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has inaugurated a joint monitoring team aimed at bolstering military operations in the South-South region to tackle the persistent issue of oil theft. This initiative aligns with the Nigerian Government’s ambitious goal of increasing Nigeria’s daily oil production to 2.2 million barrels.
The move comes on the heels of a significant operation by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), which led to the interception of three oil-laden boats and the arrest of seven suspects in Woji and Iwofe, near Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
According to a statement from Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, Gen. Musa emphasized that the newly established monitoring team is designed to enhance the effectiveness of military and security operations in the oil-producing region. The primary role of this team will be to evaluate and improve military performance and coordinate closely with other security agencies.
“The CDS underscored that the team’s mission is to support the Federal Government’s objective of achieving a daily oil production target of 2.2 million barrels. Their focus will be on optimizing operations and securing oil-producing areas,” the statement noted. Gen. Musa has also stressed the importance of collaborating with the Joint Task Force, South-South Operation Delta Safe, and various stakeholders to ensure efficient and secure operations.
Maj. Gen. Jamiu Jimoh, Chairman of the Defence Monitoring Team, expressed gratitude for the support received from troops and security agencies in the region. He reaffirmed the team’s commitment to achieving the production target set by President Bola Tinubu.
In a related development, the NSCDC in Rivers State has paraded seven individuals suspected of oil theft. According to NSCDC Commandant in Rivers, Joachin Okafor, the suspects were apprehended while attempting to siphon oil from a barge and transport it in cellophane bags. The NSCDC’s Marine Squad also detained five additional suspects at the Tombia-Iwofe axis, seizing three boats loaded with an unspecified quantity of illegally refined diesel.
Okafor highlighted the agency’s ongoing efforts to combat illegal bunkering and safeguard critical national infrastructure. “Our commitment to fighting crude oil theft and preventing environmental degradation remains unwavering,” Okafor said. “We are dedicated to restoring order and protecting the nation’s economic interests from the scourge of oil theft.”
The inauguration of the joint monitoring team and the recent arrests signal a heightened resolve to address oil theft and secure Nigeria’s oil production capabilities, ensuring a boost to the national economy and environmental protection.
