By Joseph Erunke

The House of Representatives has commended the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Nigeria Police Force for what it described as “exceptional service” in protecting pipelines, depots and other downstream petroleum infrastructure critical to Nigeria’s economy.

During a commendation visit to the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, the Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Hon. (Barr.) Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, lauded the Police for stabilising the downstream sector through strategic security operations and community engagement.

The visit, according to Ugochinyere, had two major objectives: to deepen institutional collaboration between the National Assembly and the Nigeria Police Force in securing downstream petroleum assets, and to formally present a Special Award of Recognition to the Force for its contributions to national energy security.

In his address, Ugochinyere described the Police as the “reliable backbone support” of the downstream sector, noting that fuel distribution and petroleum marketing cannot function without law enforcement and stability.

He highlighted the Force’s strategic deployment across pipeline corridors and depots, which he said has significantly reduced vandalism, product diversion and attacks on storage facilities in multiple zones.

Police escorts and highway monitoring units, he added, have ensured safer transportation of petroleum products from depots to retail outlets, curbing incidents of theft, hijacking and supply disruption.

Beyond physical security, the lawmaker praised the Police for stabilising host communities around key energy corridors through proactive engagement with community leaders and decisive interventions that have reduced tensions and operational shutdowns.

He further noted the Force’s collaboration with downstream regulatory agencies in clamping down on illegal refineries, fuel racketeering and black-market networks , efforts he said have strengthened the integrity of the formal petroleum market.

According to the Committee Chairman, the improved security presence has had tangible benefits for rural and sub-urban communities, where insecurity previously forced many filling stations to shut down.

“Closed or threatened filling stations have reopened safely, restoring access to fuel, mobility, agricultural logistics and small-scale economic activity,” he said.

He added that in several regions, security interventions helped push back criminal and insurgent activities that disrupted supply lines, leading to fewer shortages, reduced queues and improved product availability.

While commending the Force, Ugochinyere stressed that the evolving petroleum landscape , now more transparent and technology-driven,demands even closer collaboration.

He called on the Police to intensify intelligence-led patrols around pipeline corridors, ensure rapid response to supply disruption incidents, and sustain operations against illegal refineries and adulteration networks.

The Committee also urged strengthened cooperation with host communities to promote early conflict resolution and peaceful operations, as well as security support for legislative oversight activities nationwide.

Among the proposals put forward was the creation of a Standing Police Downstream Security Desk to enable quicker coordination, joint operations with regulators to eliminate illegal market activities, and enhanced protection for product movement in high-risk areas.

Describing the Police as a “central pillar” in Nigeria’s energy security framework, the lawmaker said their role is crucial in ensuring fair distribution of petroleum products, preventing revenue leakages and maintaining law and order around critical national assets.

He noted that sustained security around downstream infrastructure is key to restoring investor confidence and strengthening economic stability.

At the climax of the visit, the House Committee presented the Nigeria Police Force with an Award for Exceptional Service in Downstream Infrastructure Protection.

Ugochinyere said the recognition was more than ceremonial.

“It is a symbol of our gratitude, our trust and our commitment to continue working closely with the Police to safeguard Nigeria’s energy future,” he declared.

In his remarks, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, declared that Nigeria’s downstream oil and gas assets are “not mere installations but the vital arteries of our national stability,” as he called for stronger legislative support and increased funding to bolster their protection.

The IGP stressed that safeguarding critical petroleum infrastructure is central to Nigeria’s energy security, economic survival and public welfare.

“On behalf of the officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force, I warmly welcome the Chairman and members of this committee. We deeply appreciate your presence and your kind words of recognition regarding our efforts in protecting downstream oil assets,” Egbetokun said.

He described the lawmakers’ commendation as both humbling and encouraging, noting that the protection of pipelines, storage facilities and distribution networks remains a responsibility the Force treats with “utmost seriousness.”

“These assets are not mere installations. They are the vital arteries of our national stability. They are critical to our energy security and to the welfare of our people,” he said.

The police chief disclosed that in recent years, the Force has ramped up operations to counter economic sabotage and criminal attacks on oil infrastructure.

According to him, the police have strengthened inter-agency collaboration, enhanced intelligence-sharing mechanisms and adopted more proactive response strategies to secure pipelines and other critical oil and gas facilities nationwide.

He noted that the evolving security landscape,marked by increasingly sophisticated threats,requires continuous innovation, improved surveillance and modernized response capabilities.

“The security landscape in Nigeria demands continuous improvement. Threat actors are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and we must match that sophistication with intelligence-driven policing and advanced operational capacity,” he said.

Egbetokun emphasized that effective protection of the downstream sector cannot be achieved without robust legislative backing, particularly in the area of funding.

“To effectively confront these challenges, legislative support to improve funding for the Nigeria Police Force and indeed other security agencies is indispensable,” he stated, expressing appreciation to the committee for acknowledging the need for increased financial support.

He identified key areas where parliamentary intervention would be critical, including enhanced safety data systems to detect economic sabotage, improved surveillance and monitoring technology, and advanced training and capacity building for specialized units tasked with protecting petroleum infrastructure.

The IGP also highlighted the need for improved welfare for officers deployed to high-risk operations in the oil and gas sector, describing them as frontline defenders of the nation’s economic backbone.

Underscoring the broader implications of infrastructure security, Egbetokun said protecting downstream oil and gas facilities transcends routine law enforcement duties and must be viewed as a national economic imperative.

“Securing downstream oil and gas infrastructure is not just a security matter; it is a national economic necessity. Every facility protected represents job security for Nigerians and stability in oil supply across the country,” he said.

He assured the lawmakers of the Force’s commitment to professionalism, accountability and sustained inter-agency cooperation, expressing optimism that closer collaboration with the National Assembly would consolidate gains already recorded in protecting critical national assets.

“With your continued oversight and partnership, we will be able to consolidate on our gains and strengthen our capacity to secure Nigeria’s petroleum infrastructure,” the IGP said.

The meeting forms part of ongoing engagements between security agencies and the National Assembly aimed at fortifying the downstream petroleum sector against vandalism, theft and other forms of economic sabotage.

As Nigeria continues reforms in the petroleum sector, the strengthened alliance between lawmakers and security agencies signals renewed determination to protect vital infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted fuel supply across the country.