A presidential team today examined government assets in various states in the oil-rich Niger Delta region in an effort to combat oil theft and illegal crude oil processing.
The group was led by Nuhu Ribadu, President Bola Tinubu’s National Security Adviser (NSA).
The group included General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), and Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
Others are Muhammed Badaru, Minister of Defence; Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence; Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources; and Ekperipe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.
The delegation also included senior management team members of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and other top security personnel.
The team initially met with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara in Port Harcourt, the state capital, to discuss crude oil theft and other issues concerning the running of the Port Harcourt Refinery.
Addressing the governor, the NSA stated that the group was in Rivers at the President’s request.
Ribadu said the President believes that “indeed this part of Nigeria matters a lot; not just the resources but of course the people of the Niger Delta need to live in peace”.
“He has given (an) instruction. As you see here, this is the entire federal might. Strategic individuals and offices are here assembled.
“This is a clear demonstration of a commitment and a belief that indeed, time has come for us to open a new chapter.
“We believe that it is time to do the right thing and we’re going to do it,” the NSA said.
Badaru, on his part, stated that the nation must secure its assets, and that the inspection of the assets will allow the delegation to identify the issues and consider the best approaches to resolving them.
The minister also revealed that the team is committed to eliminating the threat at any cost in the interests of the government and the people.
“We have the marching order by Mr President to stop crude oil theft and all other vandalism around our installations and that we promised to do”.
The team is also expected to visit Delta State to inspect oil and gas facilities.
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