By Nkechi Eze
The Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), OFR, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to safeguarding critical national assets, including the operations of the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) and key energy infrastructure across the country.
General Musa gave the assurance while receiving the executive leadership of Nigeria LNG Limited during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Defence Headquarters, Ship House, Abuja.
According to an official signed statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Honourable Minister of Defence, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the high-level engagement centred on strengthening security collaboration aimed at protecting strategic energy infrastructure, sustaining economic stability and supporting NLNG’s ongoing capacity expansion projects.
During the meeting, the Defence Minister stressed the importance of collective efforts in addressing security challenges affecting critical economic assets, noting that Nigeria’s growing energy demands make the protection of gas infrastructure a national priority.
General Musa stated that collaboration between security agencies and key stakeholders remained essential to resolving operational bottlenecks confronting the sector.
To address threats within the maritime domain, the Minister highlighted the establishment of a dedicated Maritime Task Force operating within the Gulf of Guinea to enhance security and protect strategic national interests.
He also disclosed that Nigeria was intensifying efforts toward local defence production as part of long-term measures to strengthen national security capacity amid global challenges in international arms procurement.
The Defence Minister assured the delegation of the Armed Forces’ continued support toward securing the country’s economic value chain.
“I assure you that we are together, and we are going to give you all the support that you need,” General Musa stated.
Earlier, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria LNG Limited, Leye Falade, commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for their sustained efforts in protecting critical national infrastructure vital to the country’s economic growth.
Falade noted that disruptions to NLNG’s operations directly impact the upstream supply chain and national output, given the company’s strategic role in Nigeria’s economy.
He also underscored the company’s commitment to addressing energy challenges, particularly the growing demand for cleaner cooking alternatives across the country.
According to him, NLNG is currently expanding its operational capacity by 35 per cent through the Train 7 Project, making the protection of its facilities and operations increasingly critical.
“The military has significantly stepped up to help us continue serving the nation. As one of Nigeria’s highest tax-paying organisations, we want to do even more for the economy. We are currently expanding our capacity by 35 percent through our Train 7 project, and safeguarding these operations is paramount to balancing the expectations of our shareholders with our national mandate,” Falade said.
He particularly praised the Nigerian Navy for its role in ensuring maritime safety and security, while emphasising the strategic importance of the Armed Forces in protecting Nigeria’s economic assets.
The meeting ended with both parties agreeing to deepen operational synergy to ensure the security and resilience of NLNG’s operations and expansion projects in support of Nigeria’s long-term economic growth.
