The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has disclosed that 15 persons have been convicted and over 100 others prosecuted for involvement in crude oil theft and vandalism as part of the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to safeguard oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta.
Ribadu, represented by his Special Assistant on Energy, Security and Finance, Mr. Amakiri Harry-Young, made this known during a town hall meeting in Yenagoa on Friday. The meeting was convened by Petroleum Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), a pipeline surveillance contractor.
According to the NSA, those convicted are currently remanded in Port Harcourt prison, adding that a dedicated committee comprising investigators and prosecutors has been working tirelessly to ensure that offenders are brought to justice.
The move, he said, is in response to concerns raised at an earlier engagement regarding the quick release of arrested vandals, a situation that had exacerbated insecurity in oil-producing communities.
“The President is serious about the 2.5 million barrels [per day production target], and we are doing everything necessary to reach that goal,” Ribadu stated, stressing that protecting national assets is a top priority under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He reiterated that achieving the production target would require collective action from all stakeholders, including communities, security agencies, and pipeline contractors.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Akpos Mezeh, Consultant on Community Relations for PINL, said the company had made significant progress in securing the Trans-Niger Pipeline by fostering partnerships with host communities, government security agencies, and other stakeholders.
Mezeh noted that by addressing community needs, resolving disputes, and restoring environmental integrity, the company had drastically reduced incidents of oil theft and vandalism.
“Through consistent engagement and investing in local development, PINL has reduced crude oil theft to near-zero levels on the Trans-Niger Pipeline,” he stated.
He further highlighted that PINL’s operations had boosted oil output and investor confidence while also contributing to increased national revenue. He added that the firm had empowered local economies, ensured regular payment of surveillance staff, and promoted safety through the deployment of military camps and portable cabins.
President of the Ijaw National Congress, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, emphasized that Ijaw communities had always supported national unity and economic growth. He applauded the emphasis of indigenous firms like PINL in pipeline surveillance but criticised the existing provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
He described the three per cent allocation to host communities as “an insult” and called for more equitable agreements and respect for local stakeholders.
“Communities must fully support PINL operations. Any success in protecting the pipeline is a success for the Ijaw people as well,” Okaba said.
Also speaking, the Ibenanawei of Bomo Kingdom in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, King Joshua Igbugburu, who represented traditional rulers from Southern Ijaw, Ogbia, and Yenagoa LGAS, commended PINL for its proactive stakeholder engagement.
He praised the company’s community-centric approach and urged the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to conduct regular dialogue with both stakeholders and surveillance contractors to curb pipeline vandalism and enhance production.
“No other surveillance firm in the region has demonstrated this level of commitment,” the monarch noted, while calling on other contractors to emulate PINL’s strategy and work collaboratively to eliminate criminal activities in the region.
