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CRUDE OIL-THEFT: FG To Introduce AI In Tackling Menace

Amb. Nicholas Agbo Ella
Permanent Secretary, MPR
delivering his opening remarks at the Stakeholders' Engagement in Abuja.

"Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the science and engineering of creating intelligent machines, especially intelligent computer programs that can process information and produce outcomes autonomously." Amb. Nicholas Agbo Ella.


In a move aimed at tackling some of the various challenges that have bedevilled the petroleum sector, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources has stated that government was working towards ensuring that challenges such as pipeline vandalism and crude oil-theft are mitigated. This would be actualised  through the use of artificial intelligence that solves complex problems in ways that are similar to human logic and reasoning.

Making this known is the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Amb. Nicholas Agbo Ella in his opening remarks at a one-day Stakeholders’ Engagement with the theme "Mainstreaming Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence into the National Petroleum Policy" organised by the Ministry in Abuja.

The Permanent Secretary noted that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the science and engineering of creating intelligent machines, especially intelligent computer programs that can process information and produce outcomes autonomously.

He explained that the interactive session would no doubt fill-up the gap that still exists in the National Petroleum Policy (NPP) by introducing or mainstreaming Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) into National Petroleum Policy (NPP) for effective operations within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. 

The Director, Midstream and Downstream Department in the Ministry Mr. Mohammed Abubakar (Standing) delivering his welcome address at the Stakeholders' Engagement in Abuja.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Director Midstream and Downstream Department in the Ministry, Mr.Mohammed Abubakar stated that the aim of the engagement was to explore the transformative potential of advanced technologies in shaping the future of our petroleum industry, saying that in recent years, the world has witnessed an unprecedented acceleration in technological advancements, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence and machine learning.

"These cutting-edge technologies have the power to revolutionize the way we operate in the Midstream and Downstream sectors, from optimizing supply chains and refining processes to enhancing safety and reliability in our operations. 

"The adoption of this technology will also help to reduce the security issues affecting the Oil and Gas infrastructure in our country”, Mr. Abubakar stated.

The Director pointed out that the  Stakeholders' Engagement would delve into various aspects of incorporating machine learning and artificial intelligence into the national petroleum policy. 

Cross section of participants at the Stakeholders' Engagement

Participants at the event were drawn from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (MPR), Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Federal University of Technology, Minna while a communiqué would be adopted at the end of the Stakeholders Engagement.

This was contained in a statement issued and signed by Oluwakemi Ogunmakinwa (Mrs.) Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations Unit of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Abuja.



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