By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Eric Emekah, has attributed Nigeria’s recent rise in crude oil production to improved security operations in the Niger Delta, disclosing that the Division recorded zero incidents of pipeline vandalism within its Area of Responsibility in the last one year.
Emekah made this known on Tuesday in Port Harcourt during a media tour of the Headquarters, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, and the Land Component of Operation DELTA SAFE by Defence Correspondents.
He said sustained military operations, intelligence-led patrols, continuous community engagement and close collaboration with other security agencies and stakeholders had significantly stabilised the oil-producing region and boosted output.
“Since I assumed command on Jan. 24, 2025, we have recorded zero cases of violent pipeline vandalism. No oil company operating within our Area of Responsibility has reported any breach of pipelines due to vandalism within this period,” the GOC said.
Emekah noted that before 2025, Nigeria’s daily crude oil production hovered between 1.4 and 1.5 million barrels per day, but improved security in the Niger Delta had helped raise output to about 2.2 million barrels per day by December 2025.
According to him, the protection of critical national infrastructure in the maritime and oil and gas domain remains the Division’s core mandate, stressing that the performance of the oil and gas sector is a key measure of its operational effectiveness.
He clarified that most oil leakages recorded in the region were due to aging infrastructure rather than sabotage, adding that such incidents were promptly reported to the relevant oil companies for immediate remedial action.
On the issue of illegal refining, Emekah said troops had intensified operations to dismantle illegal refining sites, disrupt their support networks and address the environmental and security risks posed by the activity, with sustained follow-up actions to prevent their re-emergence.
He further explained that continuous engagement with host communities, as well as mediation between them and International Oil Companies, had helped address grievances, foster cooperation and prevent disruptions to oil and gas operations.
Also speaking, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, highlighted the strategic importance of the media in national security, describing journalists as partners in progress in the collective effort to safeguard the nation.
Onoja commended the GOC, officers and men of 6 Division for their professionalism and the transparent manner in which the media tour was conducted, noting that such engagements underscored the Armed Forces’ commitment to accountability.
He said information operations were a vital component of modern warfare and stressed the need to counter adversarial narratives capable of undermining military efforts.
“In line with Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution, the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain committed to transparency and accountability. The confidence and trust of the civilian population are critical to operational success,” he said.
Onoja cautioned that actions at the tactical level, including the conduct of troops at checkpoints, could have wider operational and strategic consequences, urging personnel to remain disciplined, professional and restrained.
He also paid tribute to the sacrifices of troops and other security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, operating under challenging conditions, often away from their families.
Describing the Niger Delta as strategically vital to Nigeria’s economy, Onoja stressed that peace, stability and security in the region were non-negotiable, calling for sustained cooperation among the military, host communities and the media to address the nation’s security challenges.
