NUPRC Seeks Drone Surveillance to Protect Oil and Gas Assets in Partnership With Defence Ministry

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has sought the deployment of drone surveillance technology to strengthen protection of Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure, as part of collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Defence.

The commitment was reached during a visit by a Defence Ministry delegation to NUPRC headquarters in Abuja, where both parties agreed to deepen cooperation through technological solutions and non kinetic interventions in oil producing communities.

Commission Chief Executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan said collaboration with security agencies had helped curb crude theft and boost output. “Last month, we recorded production of nearly 1.8 million barrels per day throughout the month,” she said, stressing that further gains would depend on managing security threats.

She highlighted the importance of advanced technologies, including drone surveillance, to monitor the vast network of facilities and improve real time detection of breaches, adding that NUPRC would lead efforts to refine a new security framework.

Representing the Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Arikpo Ekubi said the ministry was introducing a non kinetic intervention model targeting the root causes of insecurity through youth engagement, with sports playing a central role, in line with the host community provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act.