By Bavoriat Clara
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa Gwabin (Rtd), has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to safeguarding critical national assets, particularly Nigeria’s energy infrastructure and the operations of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG).
General Musa stated this while receiving the executive leadership of NLNG during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Defence Headquarters, Ship House, Abuja. The meeting focused on strengthening security collaboration aimed at protecting vital energy infrastructure, ensuring economic stability, and supporting NLNG’s ongoing expansion projects.
In a statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Defence, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the Defence Minister stressed the importance of collaboration in addressing operational challenges affecting the energy sector. According to him, Nigeria’s economic growth depends significantly on gas production and distribution, noting that stronger partnerships remain key to resolving existing bottlenecks.
General Musa also disclosed that the Federal Government had established a dedicated Maritime Task Force in the Gulf of Guinea to tackle insecurity within the maritime domain and ensure the protection of offshore assets and shipping routes. He added that Nigeria was increasingly looking inward for sustainable defence solutions by strengthening local military production capacity amid global challenges in arms procurement.
The Defence Minister assured NLNG of the Armed Forces’ continued support in protecting the nation’s economic assets. “I assure you that we are together, and we are going to give you all the support that you need,” he stated.
Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NLNG, Mr. Leye Falade, commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for their sustained efforts in securing critical national infrastructure essential to the nation’s economy. He noted that disruptions to energy infrastructure directly affect the upstream supply chain and national output, especially as NLNG continues efforts to meet rising domestic gas demand and promote cleaner cooking alternatives for Nigerians.
Falade disclosed that NLNG was currently expanding its production capacity by 35 percent through the Train 7 Project, stressing that the security of the company’s operations remained crucial to balancing shareholder expectations with its national economic responsibilities. He particularly praised the Nigerian Navy for its role in ensuring maritime security and protecting the country’s economic value chain.
Both parties agreed to deepen operational synergy to guarantee that NLNG’s ongoing operations and expansion projects remain secure, resilient, and capable of supporting Nigeria’s future economic growth.
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