The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has affirmed that the Nigerian Army, under his command, is committed to eradicating oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region of the country.
Lagbaja made this declaration during an interactive session with media executives on Wednesday in Ibadan as part of the activities commemorating the 2023 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL). “The Army will prioritize addressing the situation in the Niger Delta region, while also remaining focused on other parts of the country, in line with the mandate of the current government,” he stated. Lagbaja emphasized the significance of this mission, considering that the majority of the nation’s oil and gas infrastructure is located in the South-South region, which accounts for 90 percent of Nigeria’s revenue.
The COAS expressed concern over the impact of pipeline vandalism and oil theft on the country’s revenue generation, stressing the need for urgent measures to curb these activities. He mentioned that President Muhammadu Buhari had acknowledged the detrimental effects of these issues and the consequent strain on national resources. Lagbaja pointed out that this situation had led to the removal of oil subsidy, the implementation of a floating exchange rate, and the introduction of other reforms.
Aligned with the President’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, the Nigerian Army, under Lagbaja’s leadership, is determined to eliminate oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta, he declared.
Furthermore, the COAS assured that he would not lose focus on addressing banditry in the North-West region. He expressed the desire for people to be able to return to their farms and live normal lives as law-abiding citizens. Lagbaja affirmed the commitment to combat banditry and kidnapping, which have been plaguing certain communities. The goal is to establish stability in the North-West, similar to the achievements in the North-East region.
Lagbaja emphasized the vision of restoring peace to communities, where people can confidently engage in their legitimate activities, even in the early hours of the morning. He recalled a time when truck owners and drivers transported fish from Baga to Onitsha at 2 a.m. without fear of insecurity. The aim is to recreate such an environment where peace prevails in Plateau, parts of Southern Kaduna, and other areas currently facing security challenges.
The COAS also expressed satisfaction in the fact that the Nigerian Army is frequently called upon to address various security challenges across Nigeria. He attributed this to the Army’s reliability and its ability to meet the expectations of Nigerians. Lagbaja reiterated that the Army embraces these demands and considers itself as the people’s Army.
The activities of the 2023 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) are being held concurrently with the commemoration of the 160th Anniversary of the Nigerian Army.