By Ali Rabiu Ali Gwaram
The Honourable Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, has identified the proliferation of small arms and light weapons as a major contributor to crude oil theft, illegal refining, and kidnapping in the Niger Delta region.
Speaking at the 13th National Security Seminar 2024 in Abuja, organized by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College, the Minister emphasized the need for decisive action to combat these criminal activities and restore normalcy to affected communities.
Crude oil theft and illegal refining are serious crimes against the nation, economy, and citizenry, and the government will not tolerate such crimes, he warned.
The Minister commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to national security and acknowledged the sacrifices of the Armed Forces and other agencies in tackling insecurity in Nigeria.
He attributed the significant increase in crude oil production to the efforts of the Nigerian Armed Forces and praised President Tinubu’s support for the military.
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The seminar, themed “Curbing Oil Theft and Illegal Crude Oil Refining in Nigeria,” aimed to address critical national security issues and foster collaboration among stakeholders.
In his keynote address, the Minister stressed the importance of implementing comprehensive strategies to end these activities and restore normalcy to affected communities.
He also emphasized the need to leverage appropriate technology in warfare to enhance situation awareness and execution.
The personal assistance on media and publicity to the minister of defence Alhaji Mati Ali said the Minister commended the Alumni Association of the National Defence College (AANDEC) for bringing these issues to the fore and assured that efforts are being made to achieve the desired national objectives.
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