The Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) on Saturday says the boost in crude Nigeria’s oil production to about 25 million barrels per day is due to improvements in security in the Niger Delta region in the past two years.

The oil firm applauded the Joint military force deployed to the Niger Delta for curbing restiveness and providing a peaceful atmosphere for uninterrupted oil production.

Outgoing General Manager. Port Harcourt District of NAOC Marco Rondo gave the commendation during a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the joint force christened Operation Delta Safe in Yenagoa, Bayelsa.

Rondo said that the operations of the joint force against militancy and oil theft had stabilised the operations of the oil firm and reduced incidents of oil theft across its operations in Rivers and Bayelsa.

He noted that security was critical to the operations of the oil firm which produces some 80 percent of its oil export from Nigeria.

It will be recalled that NAOC had on March 3013 shut down its activities at oil fields in Bayelsa, from which it produced about 40 000 barrels of crude oil daily, over the high incidence of oil theft.

NAOC had stated that it was losing about 7,000 barrels of its crude production daily to oil thieves in Bayelsa, a development the firm described as unsustainable, necessitating the shutdown.

NAOC subsequently resumed operations a few months afterwards when security to the area was reinforced.

Rondo who said that the rate of oil theft had dropped drastically within the past two years appealed to the Commander of Operation Delta Safe to extend the support to the incoming General Manager Mr Tiatti Alissandra.

Responding Rear Admiral Suileman Apochi, Commander of the joint force noted that it was gratifying to note that the operations of the military were adding value to oil and gas operations and leading to a boost in oil output.

He said that several oil firms operating in Niger Delta had expressed satisfaction with the improved security in the region in the recent past during interactions with the Command.

“We are glad that our modest efforts are being appreciated by oil industry operators and we remain committed to our duty, we are here because of the mandate of the federal government.

“We have no choice than to do what we are doing because that is our job, we are committed to service to our fatherland,” Apochi said.

Also in the Agip delegation were Mr Dennis Masi, Public Affairs Manager, Mr Stanley Umokoro, and Security Manager while the Unit Commanders in Operation Delta Safe witnessed the ceremony.

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