By Our Reporter
The Niger Delta Stakeholders Forum NDSF has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu on issues that concerns National Security and the continuous onslaught against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta.
This was contained in a statement released by Niger Delta Stakeholders Forum, NSDF on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State tagged “THE SILENT WINS OF NIGERIA’S NATIONAL SECURITY ARCHITECTURE AND THE TASK AHEAD
PART 1: FOCUS ON THE NIGER DELTA AND WAR AGAINST CRUDE OIL THEFT ”
jointly signed by the Chairman ,Barrister Andrew Mene, Secretary, Mr Rowland Abarisi Tamunopiri and Chief Umukoro Joseph Erhimeyoma.
According to the release, security is critical to national development which is often overlooked, ignored and misunderstood among the elites .
They reminded the Niger Deltans and Nigerians of the unrelenting efforts under the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu of wholistic moves and efforts to ensure not only the protection of lives and properties, but activities in all areas .
The body maintained that the extra measures adopted by the NSA, is likened to that of Americans former President, Barrack Obama, justify the security Initiatives adopted by the current administration under the current dispensation.
In that vein, the NSA in collaboration with the armed forces and other security agencies increased the surveillance and maintenance of strict security matters among many others, particularly in the Niger Delta.
While reeling out the intricacies of National Security, he enjoined Nigerians to support the administration for its giant strides on security.
With concerted efforts, the government, NSA, has displayed glaring security situations that ensured the security of lives and properties as well as equipments.
The obvious success story of the security overtures has placed the country under the present administration as a role model and deserving commendations.
With synergy and collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, service chiefs, using both kinetic and non kinetic approach, along with hay wire technology has protected the heavy investment of crude oil installation, investment and increase production and theft in the Niger Delta.
The improved production has provided an enabling environment for job creation, boost in business activities and access among many others.
The positive development led to 80% increase in the production of oil between 2023 and 2026.
Excerpts..
“National security encompasses the comprehensive measures a state takes to ensure its survival, territorial integrity, and sovereignty, evolving from strictly military defense to include economic, cyber, environmental, and human security. It aims to protect against both foreign military attacks and unconventional threats like terrorism, pandemics, and economic instability. ”
“This basic understanding is often overlooked, ignored or misunderstood, even by some learned analysts.”
“However, Nigeria’s national security approach, particularly under this administration of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the current National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, is aimed to wholistically encompass and balance these various aspects, to sustain a winning architecture and system. ”
“The NSA understands the strong and central role that the military plays in the structure and strategy of national security, as well as the additional structural requirements for a holistic architecture, just as President Barrack Obama commented on the US national security approach, “we cannot continue to rely only on our military to achieve the national security objectives that we have set…”
“Accordingly, the NSA working under the President and Commander-In-Chief has devoted significant resources to supporting and coordinating the work of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria along with other security agencies, while giving due attention to all the other critical aspects of the nation’s national security structure.”
“This has resulted in a series of wins for the nation on various fronts, most going without razzmatazz, typical of national security matters. ”
“Some of the achievements and advances recorded so far, which have positioned Nigeria on the winning path, deserve a closer review in this piece.”
“Principally, the cohesion and coordination of the various security agencies which the NSA has achieved, remains pivotal to the overall performance of the architecture. This critical and strategic leadership role which the NSA provides, leveraging his wealth of experience and extensive understanding of the issues, undergirds the teamwork among security agencies and other partners that is key to advancing the gains being made.”
“Prominently also, the alignment achieved between the NSA and the Minister of Defence working with the Service Chiefs to provide field-based adjustment of strategy is a key step towards addressing the various security challenges across the regions, besides the arrangements facilitated with international partners by the NSA to provide the Armed Forces with extended capability. ”
“This is in addition to the vast deployment of technology being driven through the work of various security agencies and partners.”
” However, the largely unsung success story of curbing crude oil theft and sustaining security across the Niger Delta region calls for special focus. ”
“From the inception of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the appointment of the NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, a clear commitment to achieving peace, security and stability in the Niger Delta region was demonstrated, notably by the prompt working visit to the region which the NSA undertook. The NSA quickly moved to rejig the security architecture in the region and the structure supporting the oil and gas industry to curb the menace of crude oil theft, which has proven to be a masterstroke.”
“The miilitary and other government security agencies, private security operators, community-based security bodies, local organizations and all other stakeholders were mobilized and organized for coordinated security response, with enhanced technology enablement and exceptional intelligence management.”
“The combined kinetic and non-kinetic approach, with an all-inclusive community-focused strategy which the NSA has driven under the President with a new political will to achieve results, has yielded stability and security in the region.”
“The enormity of this is best appreciated against the backdrop of the avalanche and dark clouds of security issues which were rolling across the land at the inception of this administration, and the resolve was not only to stop the tide from engulfing the entire nation, but to roll it back and provide security for all the people of Nigeria. ”
“To the credit of the security architecture deployed across the Niger Delta region coordinated by the NSA, verifiable data from the oil and gas industry shows that a sustained decline in the number of security breaches impacting critical onshore infrastructure has been achieved, with as much as 80% reduction based on month-on-month figures recorded between May 2023 and January 2026.”
“This has provided an enabling environment for improved business operations by international and local oil and gas companies in the Niger Delta region, stabilized national oil production and is now translating into higher output.”
“The socio-economic impact on the livelihood of the people is also beginning to be realized as various community development initiatives, job creation for youths and better attention to environmental concerns are being driven under the system, in partnership with other key players and stakeholders.”
” Indeed, the unfolding success story of the national security architecture in the Niger Delta region still has a long way to go, but the benefits have begun to be realized by the people.”
“The task ahead for the NSA and the national security architecture spans across the other regions and parts of the country, especially in those areas where a resurgence of security issues has been reported in recent times.”
“However, the achievements and progress being made under the NSA, and the resolve of the President, inspires hope that with full execution of the strategy, necessary adjustments being made where necessary, and the involvement and support of all well-meaning Nigerians, victory is sure.”
SIGNED: FOR AND ON BEHALF OF NIGER DELTA STAKEHOLDERS FORUM (NDSF):
BARRISTER ANDREW MENE
CHAIRMAN
CHIEF ROWLAND ABARASI TAMUNOPIRI
SECRETARY
CHIEF UMUKORO JOSEPH ERHIMEYOMA
PUBLICITY SECRETARY
