Nigeria's Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has addressed a stakeholders meeting in the Niger Delta region that brought together key players in the oil and gas sector. The gathering was aimed at reviewing security in the region and strengthening collaboration towards increased crude oil production.
In his remarks, the minister stressed the goal of achieving a seamless operation within the Niger Delta area. He acknowledged that challenges will continue to occur, but pointed to other oil-producing countries as examples of what a well-run sector can look like, asking why Nigeria could not operate in a similar way.
After the opening remarks, the meeting went into a closed-door deliberation among the stakeholders. Briefing journalists afterwards, the Defence Minister said the engagement was a continuation of ongoing efforts to assess where things stand in securing the country's oil-producing heartland.
According to the minister, security in the region has improved considerably. He noted that issues such as piracy and armed robbery have gone down significantly, crediting the work of the armed forces and security agencies who, he said, are working tirelessly to ensure the area is secured.
That improved security has been linked directly to output. Officials indicated that production has improved, with liquid production, including condensates, ranging between about 1.75 million and 1.84 million barrels per day, a level tied closely to the relative calm in the region.
With improved security identified as a key driver of higher output, the federal government says it is targeting 2.5 million barrels per day. Reaching that figure, officials say, will depend on sustained collaboration between security agencies, oil companies and the host communities of the Niger Delta.
The minister acknowledged that, while the situation has been good, it could still be better, framing the meeting as part of a continuing process. For the oil-dependent economy, the combination of tighter security and rising production is being presented as central to the government's revenue and growth ambitions.