The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has tasked security agencies, oil industry operators and surveillance contractors with strict implementation of a new framework strictly to strengthen the protection of Nigeria’s oil and gas assets.

Mr Ribadu gave the charge at the signing and launch of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Government Security and Intelligence Agencies and other stakeholders under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry-Wide Security Architecture in Abuja.

This is contained in a statement by Special Adviser to the National Security Adviser on Strategic Communication and Civil Society Liaison, Chido Onumah, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Mr Ribadu identified crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal refining as major threats to national security, environmental protection and economic recovery.

He stressed that effective implementation required unity of purpose, clear responsibilities, information sharing and operational discipline among all participating institutions.

The NSA urged agencies and operators to disseminate the SOP to their commands, formations and field officers to ensure that its provisions guided daily operations.

He also emphasised professionalism, respect for institutional mandates and strict adherence to the law, noting that implementation would determine the framework’s effectiveness.

Mr Ribadu expressed confidence that sustained collaboration among government agencies, industry operators and other stakeholders would improve infrastructure security, boost production and support national economic recovery.

In his remarks, the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, described the initiative as another milestone in efforts to secure critical national assets.

Mr Musa said coordinated action among defence, intelligence and law enforcement agencies, industry operators and host communities was essential to sustaining security gains.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, said the SOP would promote operational orderliness by clarifying the responsibilities of participating agencies.

“Every agency understanding what to do, how to go about it, and when to do it, aligning with its boundaries, ultimately brings about orderliness,” he said.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Bayo Ojulari, said Nigeria’s oil production had improved from approximately 950,000 barrels per day in August 2022 to more than 1.7 million barrels per day.

Mr Ojulari attributed the improvement to collaboration among security agencies, industry operators and other stakeholders under the industry-wide security architecture.

He disclosed that more than 10,000 illegal refining sites had been deactivated, nearly 7,000 illegal connections removed, over 2.4 million barrels of stolen crude recovered and more than 3,700 suspects apprehended.

He, however, proposed a 60-day period for stakeholders to refine certain provisions and achieve further institutional alignment, subject to established approval processes.

The Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Audi, reaffirmed the corps’ commitment to protecting oil and gas infrastructure.

Mr Audi noted that several officers found guilty of misconduct in the Niger Delta were dismissed, stressing the importance of discipline and accountability among personnel.

Similarly, the Executive Director, Operations and Technical, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd., Warredi Enisuoh, advocated wider dissemination of the SOP, including to educational institutions.

Mr Enisuoh said private surveillance contractors could contribute through technology, intelligence gathering and community engagement while working within the framework of government security supervision.

He pledged to support implementation through Tantita’s command-and-control capabilities and information sharing with Nigerian security forces.

The Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Hafsat Bakari, called for effective monitoring, feedback mechanisms and measurable indicators to assess implementation.

Ms Bakari said sustained evaluation would help identify operational gaps and ensure that the framework delivered tangible results.

The SOP provides guidelines for joint patrols, surveillance operations, arrests, evidence handling, evacuation of recovered petroleum products and coordination among participating institutions.

It also outlines procedures for investigating offences involving the storage, transportation, marketing, sponsorship and financing of stolen petroleum products.

The framework requires contractors to hand arrested persons and recovered assets to designated government authorities as soon as practicable.

It further provides safeguards for suspects, including protection from torture and degrading treatment, information on the reasons for arrest, the right to silence and access to legal representation.

The document also regulates the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, night patrols and surveillance technology, requiring appropriate permissions, operational coordination and responsible data handling.

The SOP also provides for coordinated public communication, environmental compliance and verification of recovered petroleum products to strengthen transparency and accountability. 

(NAN)