The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Leo Irabor, has solicited sustainable collaboration among all stakeholders in the value chain of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.
In a release by Director Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor, General Leo
made this remark in Abuja on Friday 18 February 2022 during a meeting with the Governors of oil and gas producing states, heads of security agencies, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited as well as CEOs of the Upstream and Downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry.
The meeting, which was mandated by President, Muhammadu Buhari, was to consider a framework for reversing dwindling oil production occasioned by oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism, amongst other economic crimes.
General Irabor said the nation’s economy was bleeding as oil production had become abysmally low thereby adversely affecting the national economy and that of the oil-producing states alike.
He added that environmental degradation and health challenges thrown up by pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering and refining, negative effects on the wellbeing of the communities, due to pollution of the waters, land and air, thereby giving rise to a cycle of poverty and diseases.
The Executive Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, while speaking on behalf of the governors, thanked the President for mandating the engagement.
According to him, the Governors of the oil-producing states were equally worried about the level of economic sabotage in the oil and gas industry, which had caused reduced revenues as well as environmental and health challenges for the states. He believed that, at the end of the meeting, a framework for collaboration amongst all stakeholders would be crafted for the benefit of all.
Dr Okowa expressed the commitment of his colleagues to contribute meaningfully towards a collaborative framework that would guarantee greater prosperity for the nation, the states and host communities.
The other Governors
in attendance during the meeting were Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. The governors of Edo, Imo and Ondo were represented by their deputies.
Heads of security agencies that attended the meeting include Inspector General of Police, Mr Alkali Baba, Director General National Intelligence Agency, Mr Ahmed Abubakar and Commandant General Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr Audi Ahmed, among others.
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