Feb. 8, 2024

The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division Nigerian Army/ Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force, South South, Operation DELTA SAFE, Major General Jamal Abdussalam has underscored the importance of creating an enabling environment for oil and gas business to thrive in the Niger Delta Region (NDR).

In a statement on Thursday by Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director
6 Division Army Public Relations, he made the call when he paid a courtesy call on the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief (Dr), Samuel Ogbuku at his office on 7 February 2024 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The GOC stated that 6 Division, Nigerian Army (NA), was established essentially to protect Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure and to deter militancy and criminality in the Niger Delta Region (NDR).

He emphasized the importance of oil and gas to the Nigerian economy, adding that without security, exploration activities will be jeopardized. Thus, the Division under his watch will continue to ensure that oil production is sustained for the benefit of Nigeria.

He further stated that his visit was also to solicit support for the completion of the NA Jetty at Effurun, Delta State. He restated that the Jetty will enable the NA to deploy critical assets that will assist in the effective patrol to secure water ways to deter criminals.

Abdussalam averred that securing the water ways will be a win-win situation for the NA and, indeed, the local population and will above all fall rightly with the objective of sustainable development of NDDC in the region. He also solicited intervention programs across all the barracks in the NDR.

While responding to the GOC’s remarks, the MD/CEO, Samuel Ogbuku, stated that the foundation of development is peace and security. He said peace and development are intertwined. He added that peace is required for development to be sustained.

Chief Samuel, therefore, appreciated the NA and other security agencies for ensuring peace in the NDR. He assured that the NDDC will address the issues raised by the GOC and treat them as a matter of urgency.