The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has called on host communities across the Niger Delta to take greater responsibility in protecting national infrastructure, particularly oil pipelines and other strategic assets. The appeal was made on July 15, 2025, during a stakeholders’ engagement organised by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Represented at the event by Navy Captain Lassie Audi Ozovehe, General Musa emphasised that the protection of critical infrastructure should not be left to the military and security agencies alone. He urged local communities to regard the oil installations and pipelines located within their domains as national investments that directly impact their environment, health, and development.
According to him, acts of vandalism and pipeline sabotage not only disrupt the nation’s economy but also cause severe damage to the environment and well-being of the very communities from which the activities emanate. “If you break a pipeline, the environmental and health hazards will affect the community more than the oil companies. These assets are on your land. You benefit from them—so you must protect them,” he stated.
In response, community leaders present at the meeting expressed a willingness to support the campaign but urged the government and oil companies to prioritise the welfare of local residents. Prince Datolu Sokubo, Chairman of the Ijaw Youth Council (Eastern Zone), stressed that while community collaboration is essential, efforts to protect infrastructure must be accompanied by tangible development and improved social services.
Other stakeholders, including traditional ruler Mene Suanu Timothy Baridam and Dr Patricia Ogbonnaya of the Ekpeye ethnic group, also lamented the environmental degradation caused by repeated incidents of pipeline vandalism and gas flaring. They called for more proactive interventions by oil firms and government agencies to address the long-term impact on their communities.
The forum concluded with a renewed commitment from both the Nigerian military and the host communities to strengthen cooperation, enhance surveillance, and promote peace in oil-producing areas. The CDS’s appeal forms part of a broader national strategy to curb crude oil theft, protect economic resources, and foster sustainable development in the Niger Delta.
