By Harriet Tornguvan
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding critical national assets, including the operations of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) and key energy infrastructure, as part of efforts to strengthen economic stability and support national development.
The assurance was given by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd), during a courtesy visit by the executive leadership of NLNG to the Ministry of Defence Headquarters, Ship House, Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the meeting centred on strengthening security collaboration aimed at protecting strategic energy installations, addressing operational challenges and supporting NLNG’s expansion projects.
General Musa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s unwavering resolve to secure national economic assets, stressing the importance of the gas sector to Nigeria’s development aspirations.
“Nigeria needs gas,” the minister said, emphasizing that sustained collaboration among stakeholders remains the most effective strategy for resolving operational bottlenecks affecting the sector.
To tackle insecurity within the maritime environment, Musa highlighted the establishment of a dedicated Maritime Task Force operating in the Gulf of Guinea to enhance surveillance and protect critical offshore infrastructure.
He also called for collective efforts to address prevailing security and operational challenges, noting that global difficulties in arms procurement have compelled Nigeria to increasingly focus on local defence production as a long-term and sustainable alternative.
The minister assured NLNG of the Armed Forces’ readiness to provide the necessary support to secure its operations and investments.
“I assure you that we are together, and we are going to give you all the support that you need,” Musa stated.
Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NLNG, Leye Falade, commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for their continued role in protecting vital national infrastructure and sustaining economic activities.
Falade, who led the NLNG delegation, noted that as a government-majority-owned joint venture, disruptions to the company’s operations directly affect upstream supply chains and national economic output.
He stressed that beyond commercial operations, NLNG remains committed to addressing social and energy challenges, particularly the growing need for cleaner cooking alternatives across the country.
“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,” Falade said.
He disclosed that NLNG is currently expanding its production capacity by 35 per cent through the Train 7 project, describing the protection of the facility and related infrastructure as critical to balancing shareholder expectations with the company’s national mandate.
Falade particularly praised the Nigerian Navy for its role in ensuring maritime safety and security, describing the Armed Forces as indispensable to safeguarding Nigeria’s economic value chain.
The meeting ended with both parties agreeing to deepen operational synergy to ensure that NLNG’s ongoing operations and expansion projects remain secure, resilient and capable of driving Nigeria’s future economic growth.
