The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has advocated the use of advanced technologies, such as drone surveillance, to oversee the vast array of the country’s oil and gas activities. NUPRC’s Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said this during a courtesy meeting with a team from the Ministry of Defence, noting that protecting oil and gas assets through non-kinetic measures has helped raise production to almost 1.8 million barrels per day. She attributed these improvements to continuous investment in security, technology and personnel.
In a statement from Eniola Akinkuotu, Head of Media and Corporate Communications at NUPRC, the commission emphasized the importance of bolstering production assurance as Nigeria aims to boost output and draw fresh investment into the upstream sector. “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.
Eyesan added that the commission will collaborate with operators to refine and promote a new security framework, with NUPRC leading efforts to mobilize stakeholders and set up a governance structure to maintain long-term sustainability. Speaking for the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant, Major General Ekubi, outlined the Ministry’s plan to roll out a non-kinetic national security intervention model aimed at stabilizing the upstream petroleum sector. He said the strategy will feature sports-based youth engagement programs to tackle the underlying causes of insecurity in oil-producing communities and will include organized activities for persons with disabilities.
The Ministry noted that the program supports the host community development goals of the Petroleum Industry Act and is intended to promote peace, improve community relations and provide alternative avenues for economic empowerment.
