CDS Sets December Deadline For Troops To Boost Oil Production To 2.2 Million bpd

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has tasked the Army, Air Force, and Navy with increasing Nigeria’s crude oil production from the current 1.35 million barrels per day (bpd) to 2.2 million bpd by December 2024.

General Musa issued this directive while inaugurating the Defence Joint Monitoring Team at the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army Headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday.

He called on the team to work closely with security agencies and key stakeholders to eradicate oil bunkering and related crimes in the Niger Delta region, emphasizing that the goal of the task force is to ensure the security of the country’s oil resources and maximize production.

“For the past weeks, we have been working to improve security and production of crude oil within the oil producing areas. Today, we inaugurated the Defence Joint Monitoring Team. And later, we will also inaugurate the Defence Joint Infusion Centre.

“Today’s inauguration is to officially announce them to the public, but they have already started working for weeks now, and the essence is for them to see how they can assist in improving the performance of all the security agencies, all the stakeholders.

“The essence is for them to try and see where things are not done properly, and where there are gaps, they will advise and make improvement in this aspect. It’s going to be a holistic approach,” General Musa stated.

The CDS also warned troops against colluding with saboteurs, stressing that anyone found guilty of compromising national assets would face severe consequences.

“You are aware of the mandate of Mr. President. You must secure the oil producing areas. You must secure our oil facilities. You must ensure that the oil companies are able to produce maximally with a target of 2.2 million barrels per day between now and December.

“I want to thank members of the communities, the state government and all stakeholders within the oil producing areas. There have been tremendous improvements in security.

“We want to encourage them not to support anyone out there that wants to sabotage these efforts. We are going to be very decisive about it and anyone caught would be prosecuted.

“I want to use this medium to inaugurate you officially. You are to commence work as the Defence Joint Monitoring Team of the Armed Forces of Nigeria; liaise and partner with all security agencies, and stakeholders to ensure seamless collaboration,” General Musa said.

Chairman of the monitoring team, Major General JAL Jimoh, assured the CDS that his team would work diligently to boost daily oil production and exceed the set target. He thanked the CDS for the trust placed in the team, pledging their commitment to the task.