The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, has inaugurated a joint monitoring team to enhance military operations in the South-South region and curb oil theft. The team’s establishment aims to support the Federal Government’s goal of achieving a daily oil production of 2.2 million barrels.
In a related development, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested seven suspects and intercepted three oil-laden boats at Woji and Iwofe, both on the outskirts of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The suspects were caught scooping oil products from a barge and loading them into cellophane bags for transport to an undisclosed location.
The CDS emphasized the collaboration between the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies, which has significantly contributed to the increase in daily oil production in the region. The team has been instructed to coordinate with the Joint Task Force, South-South Operation Delta Safe, and other security agencies and stakeholders in the oil sector to ensure smooth operations.
The Chairman of the Defence Monitoring Team, Maj. Gen. Jamiu Jimoh, pledged that the team would work relentlessly to achieve the target of producing 2.2 million barrels of oil per day as directed by the President. The NSCDC Commandant in Rivers, Joachin Okafor, also reiterated the commitment to combating illegal bunkering activities and increasing national oil production.
The operation is part of the federal government’s efforts to combat oil theft and increase revenue in the oil sector. The government has mandated the team to secure critical national infrastructure and oil-producing areas, collaborate with oil companies to maximize production by December, and restore order in the state.