January 9, 2026 l Reporter: Johnson
ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has sounded a stern warning over the surging incidents of pipeline vandalism and oil theft in the Niger Delta, underscoring the threat such criminal activities pose to the country’s economic stability and energy sector.
General Shaibu raised the alarm during his maiden operational visit to the 6 Division Headquarters of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he addressed troops charged with protecting critical national infrastructure. He emphasised that vandalism of oil pipelines and related installations undermines Nigeria’s crude production and revenue, intensifying the need for heightened vigilance and operational readiness among military personnel.
“The protection of our national assets here is central to ensuring that our economy continues to stay afloat,” Shaibu told officers and soldiers. He added that any lapse in securing these key oil and gas facilities could have far-reaching consequences for the nation, calling on troops to be disciplined, committed and resolute in their mandate.
The army chief’s remarks come amid persistent security challenges in the Niger Delta, where criminal networks routinely target pipelines for illegal tapping and oil theft activities that have historically caused significant production losses and environmental damage, and that continue to complicate national efforts to stabilise Nigeria’s oil output.
Aside from urging troops to intensify operations, Shaibu also addressed welfare concerns raised by commanders, approving initiatives such as additional accommodation construction and renovation of existing facilities to boost troop morale and effectiveness.
Security analysts note that the Nigerian military has in recent years frequently highlighted oil theft and pipeline vandalism as major security and economic problems, linking them to broader issues of criminality and youth unemployment in the delta region. Efforts by troops and other agencies have at times led to arrests of suspects and destruction of illegal refining sites, yet the challenges remain deeply entrenched.
General Shaibu’s directive signals a continued commitment by the Nigerian Army to safeguard the nation’s oil infrastructure a crucial economic asset while underscoring the complexities of security operations in one of the country’s most volatile regions.