The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has defended the Federal Government’s engagement of private security firms in protecting Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure, saying the initiative has significantly reduced crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
Lokpobiri spoke over the weekend as a panelist at the plenary session of the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association Law Week.
The minister said pipeline security was once one of the biggest challenges confronting Nigeria’s oil sector, leading to huge losses in crude oil production and government revenue.
According to him, the Federal Government adopted a proactive approach by partnering private security contractors who worked alongside conventional security agencies to provide additional support in protecting critical oil assets.
“The security of our pipelines was a major challenge at the time. The government came under significant pressure to bring private security into the sector. Today, the results speak for themselves, with over 80 percent success recorded in reducing crude oil theft and illegal activities around our oil facilities,” he said.
Lokpobiri recalled that Nigeria’s daily crude oil losses through theft and pipeline vandalism had reached alarming levels, severely affecting national revenue, especially when crude oil prices were above $100 per barrel.
He said the security arrangement helped restore confidence in the oil sector, increase production levels and improve government earnings.
The minister also explained that the contracts awarded for pipeline surveillance were lawful and followed due process.
According to him, the arrangement was structured under a “two-plus-one-year” contract model, comprising an initial two-year term with an option of a one-year extension.
“What we did was what many governments do. We awarded a two-plus-one-year contract, making it a three-year arrangement. The objective was to achieve stability and secure our oil assets, and the results have been encouraging,” he stated.
Lokpobiri, however, warned that pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft continue to pose serious dangers to host communities, the environment and the country’s economy.
He said the government would continue to support measures aimed at protecting oil facilities, improving production and ensuring that Nigeria derives maximum benefit from its natural resources.
The post Lokpobiri Defends Use Of Private Security Firms For Pipeline Protection, Says Nigeria Recorded Over 80% Success Against Oil Theft appeared first on TheNigeriaLawyer.
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