NNPC, DSS Meet
NNPC, DSS Meet over Protection of Critical
Assets
The Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Mele Kolo Kyari has led his
Management Team to pay a courtesy visit on the Director General of
the Department of State Services, Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi, fwc to
deepen existing interagency relations between the two
Organisations.
During the visit, the GMD stated that the Corporation has, in
recent times, faced some challenges of National Security
significance.
He identified these to include the loss of revenue from product
stealing, deliberate damage to product pipelines, cross border
smuggling of petroleum products and long indebtedness to the
Corporation by persons and corporate bodies that have reneged on
business agreements relating to product allocation
Mr Kyari lamented the impact of these on revenue generation of
the country. He expressed concern that dwindling revenues affect
Government’s ability to realise its objectives.
Consequently, he sought the assistance of the Service in
containing the threats as well as recovering the debts in line with
its mandate of protecting the nation against economic sabotage.
Speaking further, the GMD identified the Service as a strategic
stakeholder in Nigeria’s National Security management and enjoined
it to continue to protect NNPC’s critical assets for the good of
the nation.
Underscoring the significance of the DSS in the National
Security architecture of the country, he requested the support of
the Service in the Corporation’s frontier exploration efforts in
parts of the country.
Responding, the DGSS affirmed that the DSS is actually a
frontline partner of the NNPC. In line with the renewed interagency
relations which he has always identified as an effective paradigm
for modern security management, he pledged the support of the
Service to the Corporation.
He emphasized the need for protection of the nation’s economy to
enable the Government to continue to perform its fundamental
objective role of ensuring the security and welfare of citizens as
enshrined in the Constitution.
Considering the important role of the NNPC in the economy of the
nation, the DG charged it to take advantage of the visit to
consolidate its collaboration with the Service. The DG introduced
his key Management members to the visiting NNPC.
Peter Afunanya, Ph.D
Public Relations Officer,
Department of State Services,
National Headquarters,
Abuja