Tinubu vows to end crude oil theft, boost economic stability

Mkpoikana Udoma

Port Harcourt — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has vowed to curb the menace of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta, tasking the Defence Headquarters and other security agencies to achieve this goal as soon as possible.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony of Course 32 participants at the National Defence College, the President explained that the effort will boost oil and gas production and achieve desired economic stability.

President Tinubu also vowed to invoke his constitutional powers to equip, arm and empower the Nigerian military, noting the importance of strategic leadership in addressing the complex security and development challenges confronting Nigeria.

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the event, Tinubu charged the graduates of Course 32 to uphold the values of excellence, courage, patriotism and integrity, even as he implored them to use their newly acquired knowledge and skills to address the multifarious challenges facing Nigeria.

The President highlighted some of the significant progress made by his administration in addressing some of the challenges confronting the nation, including the implementation of the new national minimum wage which, according to him, will not only benefit civilian workers but also personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies.

“We are also working tirelessly to curb the menace of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta. I have also tasked the Defence Headquarters and other security agencies with curbing the menace of crude oil theft as soon as possible. This will boost oil and gas production and achieve our desired economic stability

“We are committed to creating an enabling business environment that encourages value addition in our mining sector. We are working with international partners to develop strategies that will harness this sector’s potential for national security and development.”

Earlier, the Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Olotu, disclosed that the 111 graduates will contribute to Nigeria’s efforts to bolster its strategic leadership across various sectors.

He said, “Our mission is to develop future strategic leaders sufficiently equipped with the requisite knowledge and analytical skills necessary to harness the instruments of national power in a dynamic defence and security environment.

“For participants of Course 32, this mission is achieved through a 9-module curriculum comprising subject areas such as research methodology, science and technology, conflict and war studies, policy formulation analysis, and strategic leadership among others”.

The Course 32 graduates include 19 international participants from countries including India, Brazil, South Africa, and Ghana, as part of Nigeria’s commitment to fostering global cooperation in defense and security matters.