The Nigerian Army has said no incident of pipeline vandalism was recorded across the Niger Delta in 2025 within its operational area.
The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Emekah, disclosed this on Tuesday in Port Harcourt during a media tour of the Division’s headquarters and the Land Component of Operation DELTA SAFE.
Emekah said the achievement was the result of sustained military operations, intelligence-led patrols, continuous community engagement and close collaboration with other security agencies and stakeholders in the region.
“Since I assumed command on January 24, 2025, we have recorded zero cases of violent pipeline vandalism. No oil company operating within our Area of Responsibility has reported any breach of pipelines due to vandalism within this period,” he said.
He explained that improved security had positively impacted crude oil production, noting that before 2025, Nigeria’s daily output averaged between 1.4 million and 1.5 million barrels per day.
According to him, enhanced protection of oil and gas assets helped raise production to about 2.2 million barrels per day by December 2025.
Emekah said safeguarding critical national infrastructure in the maritime and oil and gas sector remained the Division’s core mandate, adding that the sector’s performance was a key measure of its operational success.
He clarified that most oil spill incidents recorded in the region were caused by ageing infrastructure rather than sabotage and were promptly reported to oil companies for repairs.
On illegal refining, the GOC said troops had intensified operations to dismantle illegal sites, disrupt support networks and prevent the re-emergence of such activities due to their environmental and security risks.
He added that sustained engagement with host communities and mediation between them and oil companies had helped resolve grievances and prevent disruptions to operations.
Also speaking, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, described the media as “partners in progress” in national security efforts.
“The confidence and trust of the civilian population are critical to operational success,” Onoja said.
He commended officers and men of the 6 Division for their professionalism and noted that such media engagements reflected the Armed Forces’ commitment to transparency and accountability.
Onoja urged military personnel to remain disciplined and professional, stressing that actions at checkpoints and other tactical levels could have wider operational implications.
He also called on host communities and journalists to support security efforts, describing peace and stability in the Niger Delta as non-negotiable due to its strategic importance to Nigeria’s economy.
