The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), has called for a stronger and more coordinated approach to securing Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure, stressing the need for close collaboration among government agencies, industry operators and host communities.

The minister made the call during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held at the Headquarters of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Speaking at the meeting, Musa highlighted the persistent threats facing critical oil and gas assets, including vandalism, crude oil theft, sabotage and ageing infrastructure. He noted that emerging security challenges, particularly the use of explosives in pipeline attacks, underscore the urgency for a more proactive and coordinated response.

According to a statement on Friday signed by the Ministry of Defence’s Public Relations Officer, Captain Moses Yare, the minister emphasised that effective security management must be anchored on sustained collaboration, improved intelligence sharing and the deployment of modern surveillance technologies.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure, describing it as a critical national asset essential for economic growth, investor confidence and national development.

Participants at the meeting acknowledged that recent gains in oil production were driven by enhanced cooperation among security agencies, industry operators and host communities.

Senior military officials also reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing joint operations under Operation Delta Safe to ensure the comprehensive protection of oil and gas facilities.

At the end of the meeting, stakeholders agreed on the need for a proactive, intelligence-driven and technology-enabled security framework. They also stressed the importance of sustained engagement with host communities to build trust and ensure long-term stability.