Defence Ministry, NUPRC collaborate to secure upstream sector through community engagement

 Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Defence and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission NUPRC have pledged to intensify collaboration on protecting the country’s oil and gas infrastructure, with a fresh focus on non-kinetic strategies centred on community engagement and youth empowerment.

The agreement was reached during a courtesy visit by a Ministry of Defence delegation to NUPRC’s headquarters in Abuja, where both parties identified shared priorities around production stability and the long-term security of critical energy assets.

NUPRC’s Commission Chief Executive, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, pointed to recent gains in crude production as evidence that existing security investments were bearing fruit. “Last month, we recorded production of nearly 1.8 million barrels per day throughout the month,” she said, crediting sustained investment in security operations, technology deployment and human resources for the milestone.

Eyesan stressed, however, that maintaining and growing those gains would require an even tighter partnership with security agencies. “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 said.

She also flagged the use of advanced surveillance technologies, including drones, as essential to monitoring the vast footprint of Nigeria’s upstream operations. The Commission, she added, would work alongside industry operators to develop a governance structure around a new security framework, with NUPRC taking a leading role in rallying stakeholders.

Representing Defence Minister General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), Senior Special Assistant Major General Ekubi outlined a non-kinetic national security intervention model the Ministry is introducing for the upstream petroleum sector. At its core is a sports-based youth engagement programme targeting oil-producing communities — areas long associated with pipeline vandalism and crude theft.

“One of the best ways to engage youths in oil-producing areas is through sports-based interventions,” Ekubi said, noting that structured programmes for persons with disabilities would also be incorporated into the initiative.

The Ministry said the strategy is designed to address the root causes of insecurity rather than rely solely on force, and aligns with the host community development provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act. Officials expressed confidence it would foster peace, improve relations between operators and local communities, and open alternative economic pathways for residents.

Nigeria has long battled oil theft and infrastructure sabotage in its Niger Delta region, with the losses costing the country billions of dollars in revenue annually. The latest collaboration signals a broader shift in strategy — combining hard security measures with social investment to create more durable stability in the sector.