Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Federal Ministry of Defence have agreed to deepen collaboration on the protection of critical oil and gas infrastructure through a new non-kinetic security framework designed to curb threats, strengthen community relations and sustain rising output.
The initiative comes as Nigeria recorded crude oil production of nearly 1.8 million barrels per day, one of the highest production levels in recent years, amid intensified efforts to combat crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other security challenges across the Niger Delta.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Ministry of Defence to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, the chief executive of NUPRC, Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the country’s recent production gains were directly linked to coordinated interventions involving security agencies and industry stakeholders.
“Today, we are benefiting from those efforts. Last month, we recorded production of nearly 1.8 million barrels per day throughout the month,” Mrs Eyesan said.
She noted that sustained investments in security operations, technology deployment and human capacity development had significantly improved production stability and operational efficiency in the upstream petroleum sector.
According to her, maintaining and expanding the gains has become critical as Nigeria seeks to increase crude oil output, attract fresh investments and maximise revenue generation from the petroleum industry.
“As we look to the future, we desire to grow production and must have assurances that security threats can be effectively managed. We can only achieve this through stronger collaboration with security agencies and industry stakeholders,” she stated.
Mrs Eyesan stressed that safeguarding oil and gas assets remains central to Nigeria’s energy security strategy and economic growth objectives, noting that production assurance has become a key requirement for investors considering new upstream projects.
She disclosed that the Commission was exploring wider deployment of advanced technologies, including drone surveillance systems, to improve monitoring of the country’s vast oil and gas infrastructure network and detect threats before they escalate into operational disruptions.
The NUPRC boss further revealed that the Commission would work closely with operators to refine and implement a new security framework, while providing leadership in stakeholder engagement and governance structures needed to ensure long-term sustainability.
The Minister of Defence, Mr Christopher Gwabin Musa, said the Ministry was introducing a non-kinetic security intervention model aimed at addressing the underlying causes of insecurity in oil-producing communities.
Rather than relying solely on military operations, he explained that the strategy would focus on community engagement, youth empowerment and social inclusion programmes to build lasting peace around critical energy infrastructure.
“One of the best ways to engage youths in oil-producing areas is through sports-based interventions,” Mr Musa stated.
He explained that the initiative would utilise sports development programmes to channel youthful energy into productive activities, reduce vulnerability to criminal networks and strengthen community ownership of critical national assets.
The Defence Minister, who was represented by one of his aides, added that the intervention would also include structured programmes for persons living with disabilities, creating broader opportunities for participation and economic inclusion in host communities.
According to him, the initiative aligns with the Host Community Development provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and is expected to strengthen relationships between operators and host communities while promoting sustainable development.