The Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Joseph Thlama Dawha, has expressed the desire of the corporation to enhance the existing cordial relationship between the NNPC and the Nigerian Army as well as the Nigeria Police Force towards the achievement of efficient protection of vital oil and gas assets.
The Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Joseph Thlama Dawha, has expressed the desire of the corporation to enhance the existing cordial relationship between the NNPC and the Nigerian Army as well as the Nigeria Police Force towards the achievement of efficient protection of vital oil and gas assets.
Speaking during two separate courtesy visits to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Minimah, at the Army Headquarters and the acting Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, at the Force Headquarters, Dawha expressed gratitude to the security chiefs for their roles in providing the much needed cover for the smooth operations of the NNPC despite mounting security challenges.
At the army headquarters, Dawha said his visit was meant to renew the existing cordial relationship between the two organisations, stressing that the NNPC would continue to collaborate with the Nigerian Army, which he said has been providing security support for the corporation's assets in the Upstream, Midstream and Downstream sectors.
The GMD lauded the role of the Nigerian Army in the security Joint Task Force (JTF), extolling the performance of the outfit in protecting NNPC assets in Port Harcourt, Benin and Auchi and also in the Chad Basin, where one of the corporation's Strategic Business Units, Integrated Data Services Limited, is currently engaged in Seismic data acquisition activities.
The GMD also noted the role of the Nigerian Army Engineering Corps in clearing and providing security for NNPC right of way across the country.
Dawha enjoined the Nigerian Army to continue to provide security support in the fight against crude oil theft, which he said has had a negative impact on the nation's resources in recent times.
Welcoming the GMD to the Army headquarters in Abuja, the Chief of Army Staff, Minimah, expressed satisfaction in the collaborative bond between NNPC and the Nigerian Army, saying the two organisations would continue to have common grounds of cooperation for the economic development of Nigeria. Minimah said providing security to national assets including those of NNPC was one of the first lines of duty of the Army assuring the GMD and his team of sustained support.
The army chief appreciated the recent interventions from the various tiers of government in providing appropriate platforms to enhance the Army's effectiveness in providing security for NNPC assets, adding that the Army would strive to improve on its performance for the development of the country.
Before the visit to the army headquarters, the GMD was at the Louis Edet House where he paid tribute to the officers and men of the Nigeria Police for their untiring support in providing security for NNPC's assets and facilities across all sub-sectors.
"We need to deepen and strengthen the close ties between the NNPC and the Nigerian Police for the socio-economic growth and stability of the country," the GMD said.
Responding, the IG said the Nigeria Police would continue to accord high priority to the protection of oil and gas facilities across the country.
"I have a new team in place and I assure you we will do whatever we need to do to give you better services in terms of pipeline protection," the IG said.
The NNPC team on the courtesy visits included the Group Executive Director (GED), Business Development Directorate, Dr. Attahiru Yusuf, GED Corporate Services, Dr. Dan Efebo and the General Manager, Security, Fred Owotorufa.
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