Army Assures Oil Sector Protection in Niger Delta
The Nigerian Army has assured Total Exploration and Production of adequate protection of its workers and assets in Nigeria as part of efforts in securing crude oil production in the Niger Delta region.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt General Tukur Buratai gave the assurance when the new Managing Director of Total E&P and Country Chair of Total in Nigeria, Mr Mike Sangster paid him a courtesy visit at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
“I can assure you that adequate protection will be given to both workers and assets of your company and the activities oil and gas production in the Niger Delta as a whole”, Gen Buratai said.
He said the oil and gas production in the country is key to the Nigerian economy and the Nigerian Army will leave no stone unturned to ensure the area is protected.
Earlier in his address at the occasion, Total’s Chief Executive Mike Sangster his visit was to introduce himself to the Chief of Army Staff as the new helmsman of the country, while appreciating the support and cooperation of the Army in Total’s business operations.
Mr Sangster also commended the army for the efforts at combating insurgency in the country, while extending the company’s goodwill message to the soldiers who daily risk their lives for the security of Nigerians and the country’s territorial integrity.
The Total boss noted that “ our hearts are with the families of the soldiers who have paid the supreme price in the line of duty” and solicited the cooperation of the army for the relationship to be sustained.
He also said that the army has been instrumental to peace around Total’s operating locations especially onshore, adding that those posted to its facilities exhibit professionalism in their conducts.
Mr Sangster called on the Army that threats still exist and that its locations are not spared of the general security risks such as kidnapping, robberies and other kinds of criminalities, stressing that the company rely heavily on government security forces to maintain an environment conducive to operations.
By PRNigeria
