Mohammed Shosanya
The Federal Government,says it is considering the adoption of non-kinetic security approaches to emphasize security from a human and socio-economic development perspective in the Niger Delta region.
National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu disclosed this while speaking on “Sustainable Development of Niger Delta: A National Security Outlook” at the ongoing Niger Delta Summit.
According to him,the Federal Government is working on establishing a special directorate to address the security challenges in the oil-rich Niger Delta.
He explained that the measure,is necessitated by President Tinubu’s recognition that the political and socio-economic progress of Nigeria is heavily tied to the social stability of the Niger Delta, which provides an estimated 75% of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.
Represented by his Special Adviser on Energy Security and Niger Delta Affairs, Osarite Ihuoma Grace, Ribadu stated that this decision is also driven by the fact that most of Nigeria’s maritime domain and international coastline, outside of Lagos, are within the Gulf of Guinea, making the region critical to the development of Nigeria’s Blue Economy.
“The Niger Delta must be clearly captured in a more active and determined way as a National Security priority in the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and his Renewed Hope Agenda,” Ribadu stated.
“Within the President’s broader and long-term National Security vision, which includes shifting internal security from a strong kinetic posture to non-kinetic operations, I will emphasize security from a human and socio-economic development point of view to deepen democratic culture in the Niger Delta.
“In view of these central ideas, I am determined to set up, for the first time in the Office of the National Security Adviser, a Directorate that shall specialize in the security of the Niger Delta, allowing stakeholders to critically address the region’s unique security challenges in a focused and professional manner,” he added.
He attributed the shortfall in oil production to oil theft and pipeline vandalization, advocating for a change in security approach.
“The political and socio-economic progress of Nigeria is heavily tied to the social stability of the Niger Delta. Before 2024, Nigeria was allotted a 1.8 million barrels per day production quota by OPEC. However, less than 1.4 million barrels per day are produced, resulting in a shortfall of 600,000 barrels per day. This is due to socio-economic issues related to security, such as crude oil theft, pipeline vandalization, environmentally harmful artisanal refining, sea piracy, and youth militancy,” he explained.
He expressed regret that the Niger Delta, the world’s tenth largest and Africa’s largest deltaic ecosystem, is ecologically diverse, complex, sensitive, and logistically challenging. “Your people have braved, survived, and made their home out of this ecosystem. The oil and gas business and its negative externalities place a lot of pressure on your physical and social ecosystem and the people’s livelihood,” Ribadu admitted.
Ribadu said the initiative undertaken by his office aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s mandate to ensure that the Niger Delta region is clearly captured in a more active and determined way as a national security priority within the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.