Tag: Ribadu

National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has said that the nation’s security services will strengthen collaboration between security and law enforcement agencies to quickly address potential threats and challenges during the elections.

Mallam Ribadu said the security agents will, among other things, intensify intelligence efforts to monitor and pre-empt any threats to elections and provide real-time intelligence to enable the implementation of proactive measures.

He was speaking through the Director of Internal Security, in his office, Hassan Abdullahi, at the second quarterly consultative meeting of the Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES)

Ribadu said collaborative efforts between security agencies and the commission have been the mainstay of maintaining peace and order during the election.

He said, “We are on the verge of holding yet another round of important elections, including the FCT Area Council election, the bye-elections to fill vacant seats in the two chambers of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly, and the governorship elections in Anambra State”.

“Our primary objective remains to safeguard the integrity of the upcoming elections. Therefore, we must ensure that eligible voters exercise their right to vote without fear or intimidation. In this regard, we will strengthen collaboration between security and law enforcement agencies to quickly address potential threats and challenges during the elections.

“Accordingly, the security component of ICCES will, among other things, intensify intelligence efforts to monitor and pre-empt any threats to these elections and provide real-time intelligence to enable the implementation of proactive measures.

“This is especially in States that are infested with recalcitrant subversive non-state actors who could be exploited by desperate politicians to undermine the elections.

Read Also: Ribadu: Controlling illicit arms key to defeating terrorism

“We will also maintain dialogue with the leadership of political parties and candidates to foster understanding and reduce tensions, as engagement with these stakeholders has proven effective in the past and should remain a priority.

“Political actors and their supporters in the affected States and the FCT are warned to conduct themselves with decorum and respect for the democratic process, as any form of electoral violence and malpractices has no place in our elections”.

Speaking at the meeting, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said while the commission was preparing for the Anambra election as well as some bye elections, there were areas of security concerns that need urgent attention.

Yakubu said, “Over the next six months, the Commission has scheduled a number of elections and electoral activities. Today’s meeting is being held in the middle of two electoral activities. Three of these activities require security deployment.

“First is the conduct of bye-elections to fill vacancies in 16 constituencies in two Senatorial Districts, five Federal Constituencies and nine State Assembly constituencies.

“The bye-elections will be held in 12 States of the Federation involving 32 Local Government Areas, 356 Wards and 6,987 Polling Units on Saturday, 16th August 2025. To aid your operational plans, the full delimitation details of the 16 constituencies are enclosed in your folders for this meeting. The same information is also available on our website.

“Furthermore, two outstanding Court-ordered re-run elections severally disrupted by thuggery and violence will also be held on the same date upon assurances from the relevant security agencies for adequate security. These are the Enugu South I State Constituency in Enugu State and the Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency in Kano State.

“The second activity is the off-cycle Governorship election in Anambra State scheduled for 8th November 2025. Related to the election is the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the State from 8th to 17th July 2025. Only yesterday, the Commission released the timelines and locations of the exercise, which will be held simultaneously in all the 326 Wards in the State.

“Although the security situation in the State is calmer than it was on the eve of the last Governorship election four years ago, I urge you to use the CVR to fine-tune your preparations for securing the forthcoming elections. Detailed information on the CVR centres is enclosed in your folders for this meeting.

“The third activity is the resumption of the CVR nationwide beginning with the online pre-registration of voters on 18th August 2025, followed by the in-person registration on 25th August 2025. The exercise will take place in our State and Local Government offices throughout the country. The full details will be made public soon, and we will share the same information with security agencies.

“As we plan for the bye-elections, the Anambra State Governorship election and the resumption of the CVR, I call on the security agencies to make adequate and proactive arrangements for the protection of personnel and assets to be deployed by the Commission and all stakeholders for these activities.

“There are some specific areas of security concern raised at our consultative meetings with Political Parties, Civil Society Organisations and the Media earlier this week. These concerns will be presented to you for your necessary action at this meeting”.

• • Ribadu: President prioritising agric reform, social investment to fight poverty

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has said poverty and hunger are no longer mere social challenges but issues that have become national security threats.

He said insecurity in the contemporary world is not only defined by weapons but also by economic deprivation, food insecurity, and social dislocation.

But the National Security Advisor (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, announced that the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has prioritised agricultural reforms, social investment programmes, and security sector interventions to break the vicious cycle of poverty and insecurity in the country.

According to the NSA, there is a vicious cycle between poverty and insecurity, which hinders economic growth and exacerbates social vulnerabilities.

Ribadu said poverty and hunger are not merely social concerns but catalysts for insecurity, crime, violence, and social disintegration.

Also, Defence Minister Muhammed Badaru called for human-centred security approaches by addressing the root causes of insecurity, including unemployment, poverty, and social exclusion.

The minister noted that in a world where security challenges know no borders, there is a need for collective action in addressing the nation’s security concerns.

General Musa, Ribadu, and Badaru spoke yesterday in Abuja at the opening of the 14th National Security Seminar, with the theme: Combating Hunger and Poverty for Sustainable Peace and Development in Nigeria.

The seminar was organised by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College (AANDEC) in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The CDS, who was represented by the Chief of Defence Training, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shetimma, called for a unified national approach to combating hunger and poverty, stressing their growing impact on Nigeria’s internal security.

He said: “Insecurity today is not only defined by weapons but also by economic deprivation, food insecurity, and social dislocation. Hunger and poverty are no longer mere social challenges – they have become national security threats.

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“The Northcentral region, particularly Benue State, once considered Nigeria’s food basket, is a clear example of how banditry, displacement, and farmer-herder conflicts have devastated agricultural productivity.”

Musa noted that the disruption of farming communities and illegal occupation of farmlands contributed to food inflation, displacement, and mass migration, thereby destabilising both the economy and national cohesion.

He urged communities to support intelligence gathering, timely reporting, and community vigilance.

The CDS called for urgent investment in grassroots agricultural development.

He urged the government and other stakeholders to reposition farming as a noble and rewarding profession by enhancing access to credit, infrastructure, and market linkages.

Musa said: “With the migration of rural youth to urban centres, agricultural productivity is declining.

“We must make farming attractive again — not as a last resort but as a national duty and a prestigious calling,” he added.

Musa also praised President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its emphasis on financial autonomy for local governments, which he described as vital for responsive and community-driven development.

“I assure you, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, in synergy with other security agencies and with the support of the people, remain resolute in overcoming all security threats.

“We must build a Nigeria where every citizen can live in peace, engage in productive livelihood, and enjoy the dividends of democracy,” he said.

Nigeria must strengthen control of illicit arms influx to defeat terrorism, National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu said yesterday.

He spoke during the destruction of 3,867 small arms and light weapons (SALW) by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) in Abuja.

The exercise was the fourth by the centre, which is in the Office of the NSA, since its establishment in 2021.

Represented by the Special Adviser on Governance and Subnational Liaison, Asishana Okauru, Ribadu said the proliferation of SALW constitutes a huge threat to national security and has become a key driver of violent conflict, crimes and terrorism.

According to the NSA, the failure of the global community to effectively control the availability of illicit SALW has continued to undermine global peace and significantly hinder development, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

“We recognise the complexity of the challenges of controlling the proliferation of SALW in Nigeria and the requirement for concerted action amongst the government, international community and all well-meaning civil society organisations.

“We are resolved to galvanise our strengths and unity as a nation to confront these monstrous challenges, and I am optimistic that we shall surmount them.”

Read Also: Ribadu, Salihu’s strategic leadership aided APC reconciliation success in Adamawa – Report

Ribadu said the signing of the Small Arms and Light Weapons Act 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to tackling illicit arms.

“I am sure that given the time and the necessary support, the National Centre will successfully deliver on its mandate of significantly eradicating illicit SALW from our society,” Ribadu said.

Director-General of NCCSALW, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Johnson Kokumo, said the arms destruction exercise was the fourth in a series of what had now become routine in the centre’s illicit weapons reduction strategy.

He said: “The national centre has in its custody some recovered/captured illicit SALW still undergoing tracing as well as investigations and legal processes.

“These include the illicit weapons smuggled into the country and intercepted at Onne Port and NAHCO shed at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos by the Nigeria Customs Service.

“These categories of weapons would be destroyed on completion of the proceedings during subsequent routine destruction exercises.”

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has stated that Nigeria can defeat terrorism through concerted government efforts and citizen unity, particularly by controlling illicit arms proliferation.

Ribadu said this at the public destruction of illicitly acquired decommissioned and unserviceable small arms and light weapons, at the Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment in Giri, Abuja, on Thursday.

The exercise, conducted by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), was the fourth destruction exercise held by the centre since its establishment in 2021.

Represented by the Special Adviser on Governance and Subnational Liaison, Mr. Asishana Okauru, Ribadu said proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) constitutes a huge threat to our national security, which has become a key driver of violent conflict, crimes and terrorism within and beyond our borders.

According to the NSA, the failure of the global community to effectively control the availability of illicit SALW has continued to undermine global peace and significantly hinder development especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

“We recognize the complexity of the challenges of controlling the proliferation of SALW in Nigeria and the requirement for concerted action amongst the government, international community and all well-meaning Civil Society Organisations,” he said.

“Nonetheless, we are resolved to galvanise our strengths and unity as a nation to confront these monstrous challenges and I am optimistic that we shall surmount them.”

Ribadu noted that the establishment of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) in 2021 was a historic step towards addressing the problem of small arms proliferation through an institutional platform that would structurally address all underlying contributors to national security threat within international protocols. 

He said the signing of the Small Arms and Light Weapons Act 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu further demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to putting end to illicit arms in the country.

He said: “The public destruction of illicitly acquired decommissioned and unserviceable small arms and light weapons today is a reminder to all Nigerians of our collective responsibility to support the Government and by extension the security agencies in our fight to defeat criminality, terrorism, banditry and all other forms of behaviours that threaten our national interest and socio-economic wellbeing. 

Read Also: Ribadu, Salihu’s strategic leadership aided APC reconciliation success in Adamawa – Report

“It is a clarion call to reclaim our security space and restore our nation to the path of peace, security and development. We, as patriotic citizens must stand up to be counted at this time by providing information to the security agencies and we must trust the Government to bring the state’s authority to bear in ensuring that all Nigerians, wherever they may reside, enjoy the peace and security that they truly deserve. 

“The Federal Government is also taking firm steps through relevant Ministries and Government Agencies to tighten domestic controls to prevent and reduce the flow of SALW into illegal hands who are working to undermine our security.”

The NSA commended the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons for this milestone achievement within the short time of its establishment.

“I am sure that given the time and the necessary support, the National Centre will successfully deliver on its mandate of significantly eradicating illicit SALW from our society,” Ribadu said.

More than 13,543 terrorists and criminal elements have been neutralised across Nigeria since May 2023, according to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

Ribadu made the disclosure on Thursday while speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Summit, held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.

He said the figure was the result of sustained counter-terrorism operations by the military and intelligence agencies over the past two years.

“Our troops have neutralised 13,543 terrorists. We have also recovered and destroyed 252,596 rounds of assorted ammunition”, Ribadu said.

The NSA also revealed that at least 124,408 former fighters and family members from Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) have surrendered to Nigerian authorities since the beginning of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Read Also: Tinubu dismisses one-party state fears

He noted that these individuals are currently undergoing rehabilitation through the government’s de-radicalisation and reintegration programme.

Ribadu credited the security gains to improved inter-agency collaboration, increased investment in intelligence gathering, and a strong political will from the current administration.

He said the APC-led government has made significant progress in addressing the nation’s security challenges and is committed to restoring peace and stability across all regions.

The APC National Policy and Development Summit was convened to review the performance of the party in government and to highlight the impact of its policies, including in the area of national security.

All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa state has recorded a major breakthrough in its quest for internal cohesion and electoral strength with the formal submission of a comprehensive reconciliation report by the committee led by elder statesman, Senator Mohammed Mana.

The peace initiative, which has been widely applauded by stakeholders, is the outcome of a coordinated effort spearheaded by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the APC National Vice Chairman (North East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu.

The reconciliation committee was constituted after wide consultations among key political actors in the state, and with strategic input from the NSA, who is widely regarded as a stabilising figure in Adamawa politics. His role, sources say, was pivotal in setting the tone for an inclusive and credible reconciliation process.

Working in close alignment with the NSA, Comrade Mustapha Salihu provided administrative coordination, strategic direction, and political leadership that anchored the peace-building effort and culminated in the successful submission of the report.

In a statement he made available to journalists in Kaduna on Friday, Comrade Salihu described the development as a “new dawn” for the APC in Adamawa and a critical step toward repositioning the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, “This report marks a turning point in our collective efforts to strengthen the APC in Adamawa. It is the product of genuine dialogue, stakeholder engagement, and a shared commitment to unity. I sincerely thank all those who played a role in making this happen, particularly our National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his guidance and fatherly support throughout this process,” Salihu said.

He emphasised that the reconciliation is not just about settling disputes but about laying a solid foundation for future electoral success by fostering inclusivity and rebuilding trust among party members.

Read Also: Ribadu: FG committed to protecting Nigeria’s critical assets from emerging threats

In recognition of these efforts, the Adamawa APC Unity Forum, led by Abubakar Hamma, issued a statement commending the leadership of both NSA Ribadu and Comrade Salihu.

“The roles played by the NSA and our Zonal Vice Chairman were instrumental. Their guidance, commitment, and strategic oversight gave the committee the credibility and confidence it needed to deliver this crucial mandate. Their patriotism has rekindled hope in the APC project in Adamawa,” the statement read.

Similarly, the Coalition of APC Youths Forum in Adamawa, led by Hon. Khalil Sajo, expressed optimism about the party’s future in the state, declaring that the reconciliation efforts had repositioned the party for victory.

“We now have a united front. The distractions are over, and thanks to leaders like NSA Ribadu and Comrade Salihu, we are entering the 2027 race from a position of strength,” the youth leader added.

It will be recalled that Comrade Mustapha Salihu recently donated a newly acquired 20-room duplex complex equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to serve as the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Adamawa State APC Secretariat. This, among several other gestures, reflects his unwavering commitment to the party’s growth and organisational readiness.

Political observers believe that with this successful reconciliation and the backing of respected national figures like Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and Comrade Salihu, the APC in Adamawa is now better positioned to challenge for electoral dominance in the coming years.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has said the federal government was committed to protecting the nation’s vital digital and physical assets.

He said the government was ready to protect, monitor and make Nigeria’s assets resilient against emerging threats.

Ribadu spoke on Wednesday at the 2025 Information Technology Professional Assembly organised by the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) in Abuja. 

The national security advisor reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to national security and digital transformation. 

The former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, who was represented by a director in his office, Prof. Abdullahi Yau, said the current administration has evolved various policies aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s cybersecurity architecture. 

He underscored the importance of the gathering, saying there was the need to chart a forward-looking path that responded effectively to evolving global threats, aligned with international best practices and secured the nation’s digital future.

He commended the role being played by CPN in keeping the nation secure, informed, and prepared.

Ribadu said, “We must recognise that cybersecurity is a dynamic and constantly evolving field. Threat actors are becoming more sophisticated, more resourced, and more coordinated. 

“The tools and tactics they employ, from artificial intelligence-driven attacks to supply chain infiltrations and persistent threats targeting national infrastructure, demand that our strategies remain agile and forward-looking.”

He highlighted measures by the current administration to enhance national security and digital transformation, saying before the administration of President Tinubu, many of the goals outlined in the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS) had remained largely unfulfilled.

The NSA reassured Nigerians that cybersecurity remained a top priority of the federal government. 

Ribadu said the government would continue to strengthen its policy frameworks, deepen inter-agency collaboration, invest in talent development, and modernise the nation’s national cybersecurity infrastructure.

He, however, called for support from various stakeholders, saying success could rest on the shoulders of government alone but requires all hands on deck, government, industry, academia, civil society, and international partners.

Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa described the theme for this year’s IT Assembly, “National Cybersecurity Policy: Implementation and Effectiveness” as timely and appropriate. 

Read Also: Sanwo-Olu, Ribadu, Ogunsan, Anosike, others to speak at the launch of new Centre at UWE

His speech was read by a Deputy Director, Science Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Olie Frank. 

He charged the management of the Council to ensure elimination of quackery in the IT industry, saying the the ministry would continue to strengthen the CPN and assist it in carrying out the task of regulating, supervising and controlling the Information Technology profession in Nigeria.

President and Chairman of Council of CPN, Kole Jagun, said this year’s event which is the 19th in series of Information Technology Professionals’ Assembly, focused on issues aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s cyberspace from cyber threats, online fraud, fake news, and hate speech, while fostering international alliances and promoting local technology development.

“This gathering is more than just a meeting; it is an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and inspire one another. The rapid evolution of technology demands that we stay ahead—through continuous learning, knowledge sharing, and professional networking,” he stated. 

National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has said that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is laying the foundation for a Nigeria that could secure herself and inspire confidence globally.

Ribadu noted that the country is rich in diversity and endowed with abundant human and natural resources but expressed the concern that despite these great assets, the march toward peace and stability has remained persistently threatened by a complex web of security challenges.

He said that the resilience Nigeria seeks would not be achieved overnight but through step by step and policy by policy, even as he also called for “strong institutions and attitudinal change” to defeat corruption in Nigeria.

The NSA noted that since the birth of Tinubu’s administration, there has been a paradigm shift regarding dealing with security threats, saying it is one that moves the country away from reactive crisis response to that of resilient national systems capable of anticipating, absorbing, and recovering from shocks.

He identified Nigeria’s current four – fold security threat as terrorism in the Northeast (Boko Haram, ISWAP), banditry and kidnapping in the Northwest and Northcentral, separatist agitation in the Southeast – the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN), and militant resurgence in the Niger Delta.

Read Also: Fed Govt taking strong actions against oil vandals — Ribadu

Ribadu who spoke yesterday while delivering the 9th Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona Annual Professorial Lecture titled, “Corruption and National Security: Impacts and Consequences,” at the Ogbagba Hall of the Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona School of Governance Studies (NIPSS-OSKASOGS), Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU, Ago-Iwoye, added that though each of the four-fold threats is fed by local grievances but enabled by transnational dynamics.

The event was organised by the university to celebrate the revered Paramount ruler and Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Kayode Adetona, who turned 91, May 10 and was represented by his daughter and Chairperson, Governing Board of the Professorial Chair in Governance, Princess Adetoun Adetona-Daramola.

The National Security Adviser, represented by Mr. Tosin Ajayi, Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), listed the transnational dynamics as proliferation of arms, ideological extremism, cyber manipulation and external sponsorship.

He revealed that available evidence showed that up to 60% of the combatants in insurgent groups originated from outside the country, stressing that the nation’s security cannot be separated from that of the Sahel region and West Africa as what affects one also affects all.

Ribadu said that historically, Nigeria’s security architecture is one that responds to crises as they emerged but stressed that while this approach had yielded tactical successes, it has also proved  insufficient for the country’s security environment that is shaped by evolving ideologies, porous borders, and hybrid threats.

He called for resilience in national security systems built around human, institutional, technological, and communal structures that are adaptive, inclusive, and forward-looking so as to engender a society capable of withstanding shocks without systemic collapse.

He said, “The resilience we seek will not be achieved overnight. But step by step, policy by policy, we are laying the foundation for a Nigeria that can secure itself and inspire confidence across the world.

“Let us remember, security is not merely the absence of violence. It is the presence of justice, opportunity, dignity, and collective resolve. As we invest in guns, we must also invest in governance. As we secure borders, we must also secure hearts and minds… A resilient Nigeria is possible—and together, we will build it.”

He also said that Nigeria is winning the war against terrorism, banditry and other security challenges, citing the successes being recorded by the military such as the surrendering of over 160,000 Boko Haram combatants and the more than 300 commanders that were neutralised as examples.

On the celebrant, Oba Adetona, Ribadu extolled his virtues of “selfless service to humanity, enduring support for education, and commitment to good governance,” which said, “stand as a beacon of visionary leadership.”

“At 90 years of age, Kabiyesi remains an extraordinary symbol of dignity, wisdom, and peace. May his reign continue to be long, impactful, and crowned with tranquility.Kabiyesi o! K’ade pe l’ori, ki bata pe l’ese. A o ni ri b’ale Oba se n sunkun l’aiye wa. Ijebu a gbe yin o!(May the crown endure on your head, and your feet remain strong in service. May we never witness sorrow in your palace. May the land of Ijebu continue to uphold and honour you,” Ribadu prayed.

Speaking earlier in his welcome address, the Pro – Chancellor,  Prof. Oluwatoyin Ashiru, said if the country hoped to experience genuine peace, a war must be waged on corruption and a commitment to integrity that could inspire generational transformation.

Ashiru hailed Oba Adetona at 91, saying the monarch’s legacy, including his many endowments to the university, would remain eternal.

In his remarks to congratulate the royal father on his 91st birthday, the governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Abayomi Arigbabu, explained that Oba Adetona’s majestic reign has not only been defined by longevity but by legacy of wisdom, courage and uncommon progressive and visionary leadership.

Gov Abiodun said that Awujale for over six decades has continued to  serve as a moral compass and highly respected custodian of culture whose noble and selfless contributions to building a virile, prosperous and democratic Nigeria is worthy of emulation by all.

The governor said that the state and the country at large would continue to celebrate the monarch for being a beacon of good governance, selfless service,  statesmanship and a role model of uncommon standing, praying that the Almighty God will further preserve the royal father for many more fruitful years.

Other dignitaries at the annual lecture were the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu land and former Chairman, Governing Council of OOU, Dr Sunny Kuku, the Olota of Ota, Oba Prof Abdulkabir Obalanlege, the Ebumawe of Ago Iwoye, Oba Abdulrasaq Adenugba among others.

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has reassured Nigerians that the Federal Government is taking strong actions against oil vandals threatening national assets and local communities.

The NSA Nuhu Ribadu gave the assurance yesterday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, organised by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) to appraise the company’s operations on the Trans Niger Pipeline.

Represented by his Special Adviser on Energy, Security and Finance, Mr. Amakiri Harry-Young, the NSA revealed that a special committee comprising investigative and prosecuting teams had been working round the clock to ensure offenders face justice.

He stated that over 100 suspects had already been prosecuted, with 15 recently sent to Port Harcourt prison.

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He said the move followed concerns raised during a previous meeting about the arrest and quick release of oil vandals which often leads to further insecurity in affected communities.

Ribadu emphasised that the administration was fully committed to achieving the national oil production target of 2.5 million barrels per day.

He stated: “The President is serious about the 2.5 million barrels, and we are doing everything necessary to reach that goal.

“That success will depend on the collective efforts of all stakeholders involved.”

In his opening address, the PINL Consultant, Communities Relations, Dr. Akpos Mezeh, said that the PINL had recorded major successes in safeguarding the Trans-Niger Pipeline (TNP) through close collaboration with host communities, government security agencies, and other key stakeholders.

He also stated that by investing in community needs, resolving disputes, and restoring the environment, PINL had helped reduce crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

He noted that the result had been near-zero infractions on the pipeline, improved crude oil production, and greater investor confidence, all contributing to increased national revenue.

Mezeh also said that in addition to strengthening local ties, PINL had also supported economic empowerment, ensured regular payment of surveillance guards, and promoted safety by deploying military camps and porta cabins.

Also, the President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Benjamin Okaba, stressed that Ijaw communities had always supported Nigeria’s unity and economic stability, even taking the lead in the management of pipelines through companies like PINL.

He urged full support for PINL, emphasizing that any success in protecting pipelines should also credit the Ijaw people.

Prof. Okaba criticized the current terms of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), especially the three per cent allocation to host communities, calling it an insult.

 He called for better agreements and full respect for such terms by both the company and the federal government.

Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers of the host communities in Southern Ijaw, Ogbia and Yenagoa local government areas, His Royal Majesty King (Dr.) WSJ Igbugburu X, the Ibenanawei of Bomo Kingdom, Southern Ijaw LGA, praised the company for its consistent engagement with stakeholders.

The respected monarch commended PINL for setting an example in community involvement, noting that no other pipeline surveillance firm operating in the region had shown such commitment.