The minister of defence, Mohammed Badaru, has commended the Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) for the protection of oil facilities in the Niger Delta.

He gave the commendation on Friday during his maiden operational visit to the JTF headquarters in Igbogene Yenagoa.

According to him, he is in Bayelsa to assess the level of success the JTF troop has recorded in the past months.

He said the troops had done very well as they had deactivated 1,129 illegal refineries from February to date. That is a very big achievement.

He said the troops’ destruction of over 1,115 storage facilities, 750 large wooden boats and the arrest and appropriate handling of 265 vehicles conveying crude oil and IR products were commendable.

The minister lauded the troops for arresting 894 suspects in connection with various crimes and the destruction of about 14 militant/sea robbers’ camps.

“In the last three months, the nation’s crude oil production output averages 1.7 million BPD.

“I confirmed yesterday at Bonny in Rivers State that most of the lines are delivering at 100 per cent of what is being pumped with some dwindling at 95 and 96.

“This means all the illegal connections have, to a large extent, been removed. I want to encourage you to sustain these efforts.

“I want to thank you on behalf of Mr President and to tell you he is with you and aware of what you are doing, and he will continue to support you as you support our country,” he said.

He urged them to deliver two million barrels a day by the end of this year, 2.5 minimum by mid-next year.

The minister said that oil production had been going down for some time, and there was a need to improve the production.

(NAN)