The OPTS Security Subcommittee successfully held its annual retreat and stakeholders’ engagement between December 10 and 11, 2020, at the Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. In attendance at the retreat was the top hierarchy of the Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) otherwise known as the Joint Task Force (JTF), the Executive Director of OPTS and security leads of the various OPTS member companies.
The event which was aptly themed “Dealing with emerging security threats in the Post COVID-19 era”, was a strategic effort to engage with the leadership of the OPDS with a view to reviewing the impact of their support to the oil and gas industry in 2020 and to proactively develop strategies to ensure a safer and more secured operating environment in 2021.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Security Subcommittee and GM Security, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Shina Bankole, commended the OPDS for the unrelenting support to the industry throughout the year despite the obvious operational challenges. He noted however that with the escalating security situation in many parts of the country amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a need for even greater synergy between all stakeholders in order to ensure a safe operating environment for the industry.
The Commander, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) Rear Admiral Akinrinade, who was represented by Commodore JN Mamman, gave a synopsis of the activities of the Joint Task Force (JTF) this year, including successes recorded in its anti-crude oil theft and anti-pipeline vandalism efforts, and the destruction of militants and pirates’ camps across the Niger Delta. He also highlighted areas where opportunities existed for better cooperation with the OPTS, particularly in information sharing and resource optimization. He urged the oil and gas companies to judiciously adhere to agreements signed with the oil-bearing communities so as to reduce friction, and to make use of the services of its Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) department.
Knowledge sharing sessions were thereafter held by members of the Security Subcommittee with discussions covering contemporary areas like technological challenges with the security application of biometrics and artificial intelligence, use of unmanned aerial vehicles and radio frequency identification cards, the field of communication intelligence, and effective security control room operations. The team also held a brainstorming session during which practical solutions were proffered to some common industry challenges.
The retreat afforded the Security Subcommittee the opportunity to send off members who had recently retired from their companies after serving meritoriously, as well as usher in the new leadership of the Subcommittee for the next two years, to be led by Mr. Iliyasu Bagna, the GM Security, Total Exploration and Production Nigeria (TEPNG).