The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has applauded the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) for its strategic role in providing adequate security in the oil and gas exploration region.

Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, gave this commendation when he paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Air Vice Marshall Mohammed Sani Usman in his office in Abuja.

Dr. Baru noted that his visit was to confer with the DIA on matters of national strategic security importance as they affect the operations of NNPC and to seek for further support and collaboration in the protection of oil and gas assets across the country.

The GMD said that Nigeria’s energy supply security is underpinned by a robust network of over 8,000 kilometer of assets used in the transportation of crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products. He stated that these critical national assets have become subject of incessant vandalism, theft and sabotage.

The GMD said the NNPC under his watch would remain committed to collaborating with security agencies to emplace lasting solutions to oil and gas assets infractions and to eliminate the revenue loss, production deferment and energy security threats to the country.

In his response, the Chief of Defense Intelligence, Air Vice Marshall Usman, assured the GMD of the agency’s support and urged the NNPC and the international oil companies (IOCs) to give the agency the list of some of the critical assets that require strategic surveillance for effectiveness.