NPDC Seeks Partnership With Police, DSS To Protect Oil Assets

The upstream subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) has sought partnership with the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and the Department of State Services (DSS) towards securing the company’s oil and gas assets across the Niger Delta.

The Managing Director of the NPDC, Mr. Mansur Sambo, in a statement signed by the Corporation’s spokesman, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, said there was the need for synergy with the security agencies to help the company fulfil its mandate to increase oil and gas production volume in order to generate more revenue for the country.

Sambo, on his first official visit to the offices of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 5 and the Edo State Director, State Security Service in their various offices at Benin City, said nothing beats a safer and secure environment for an organization like the NPDC to thrive.

Describing security as a major global challenge for the oil and gas industry, Sambo said as a responsible organisation, NPDC was committed to building a safer workplace, not just for NPDC staff and installations alone but also for all our stakeholders.

“I call on you to explore more sustainable ways of ensuring the safety and security of NPDC staff and installations at all times” Sambo noted.

The MD, who explained that NPDC could not succeed in isolation, added that the company must share the challenges by building strong partnerships to further improve on its safety culture going forward.

While enumerating the numerous security challenges facing NPDC before the two security agencies, Sambo particularly called for constant surveillance on NPDC assets in Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States.

According to him, he has, since coming on board a few months ago, made security a top priority agenda for the company, which is adjudged the largest indigenous Oil Company.

The MD also assured that NPDC as a socially responsible company would continue to discharge its duties to its host communities by providing infrastructures that would attract development within its areas of operation.

In their separate responses, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police Zone 5, Mr. Dibal Yakadi and the Director of the Department of Security Services (DSS) Edo State Command, Barrister Brown Ekwoaba assured the new NPDC Management of their readiness to safeguard NPDC staff and installations and thus make the company more profitable for the benefit of Nigeria.