The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has emphasised that fostering community ownership of national infrastructure is essential to improving the protection of oil facilities across the country.
Speaking during the monthly stakeholders’ engagement organised by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, General Musa made a strong case for local responsibility and active collaboration in safeguarding national assets.
He noted that the destructive consequences of oil theft, illegal bunkering, and pipeline vandalism are most severely borne by the host communities themselves. According to him, such criminal activities not only damage critical infrastructure but also disrupt economic growth, endanger public safety, and cause long-term environmental degradation.
General Musa therefore called on residents of oil-producing areas, particularly those along the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP), to take proactive ownership of the oil infrastructure located within their communities. He encouraged them to see these facilities not as distant government property, but as vital national assets that directly affect their wellbeing, security, and economic future.
“The real cost of pipeline vandalism is paid by the communities,” the CDS warned, urging the people to desist from any form of sabotage. He added that protecting oil installations is not only a patriotic duty but also a necessary step in attracting development, investment, and social progress.
General Musa further reiterated the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to support efforts that promote peace, stability, and national development. He stressed the need for sustained collaboration between security agencies, pipeline operators, and host communities in order to ensure uninterrupted oil production and safe energy infrastructure.
The PINL stakeholders’ engagement serves as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and policy alignment between security stakeholders, industry players, and local communities. It is part of a broader strategy to enhance transparency, accountability, and cooperation in Nigeria’s oil and gas corridor.
By advocating community ownership and responsibility, General Musa’s message reflects a growing shift in security policy—one that places value on civic participation and collective action in protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure.
