Institute of Criminal Justice Studies University of Portsmouth This thesis is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Doctor of Security Risk Management of the University of Portsmouth. Title: Assessing the effectiveness of government security agencies in oil pipelines security management in Nigeria: A case study of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Submitted by: Christopher Patrick Udoaka Student Number: 792027 Date: 20 September 2019 Declaration Whilst registered as a candidate for the above degree, I have not been registered for any other research award. The results and conclusions embodied in this thesis are the work of the named candidate and have not been submitted for any other academic award. Word count: 40,758 Signed: __________________ Date: 20 September 2019 Page 1 of 220 Abstract Nigeria is a mono-economy nation depending on the petroleum sector for her foreign exchange earnings. Its oil industry faces a major challenge of vandalism of oil pipelines, where recorded incidents have varied between 3 and 10 every day during the last 15 years. The aims of this research were to examine the problem of petroleum products pipelines vandalism in Nigeria and make recommendations for improving the national response to the problem, with the specific objectives of examining the nature and extent of the problem, identifying the strategies and tactics being employed to address the problem, and examining the strengths and limitations of the current measures. The extant literature indicates that vandalism of oil pipelines is a global phenomenon, against which most oil and gas producing countries deploy equipment and technologies in conjunction with security forces to protect their oil and gas facilities. The methodology adopted for this study was qualitative in nature, comprising semi-structured interviews with ten NSCDC anti-vandalism personnel from Niger Delta states’ commands and headquarters; twelve other critical stakeholders encompassing the security joint-task force (JTF) personnel, multi-national oil companies’ senior managers, leaders of oil-producing host communities, NGO managers, senior personnel in private security companies (PSCs) and other physical security experts. The participant accounts suggest that vandalism of oil pipelines in Nigeria is multifaceted, requiring a combination of methodologies and tactics to combat it. They included details of a massive deployment of security forces to the Niger Delta region to combat oil pipelines vandalism, reporting positive results from NSCDC personnel deployment to Niger Delta region in the form of arrests of the perpetrators and foreign collaborators, and seizures of their vessels. At the same time, however, it was reported that the militarization of the oil Page 2 of 220 producing communities increases tension, escalates violence and leads to human rights abuses. The research recommendations include evolving alternatives away from the current measures which emphasise security forces deployment to combat vandalism of oil pipelines; investment in the deployment of physical security in combination with the security forces in a more integrated manner, provision of social amenities in the oil producing communities, seeking international collaboration, provision of job opportunities for the youths of the Niger Delta region, identification and apprehending of the sponsors of oil pipelines vandals, and also learning best practices from other oil and gas producing countries. 374 words Page 3 of 220 Contents Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………….2 Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………….……… 8 List of figures and tables………………………………………………………………………9 List of abbreviations……………………………………………………………………….... 10 Chapter One: Introduction………………………………………………………………… 12 Background………………………………………………………………………………….…12 Research aims and objectives………………………………………………………………….23 Outline of chapters …………………………………………………………………………….23 Chapter Two: Literature Review…………………………………………………………….27 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………….30 Literature search and selection strategy……………………………………………………….27 The problem of vandalism of oil pipelines in Nigeria……………………………………...…30 Oil and gas security……………………………………………………………...…30 Oil pipelines infrastructure………………………………………………………….35 Vandalism of oil pipelines …………………………………………………….…….44 Strategies and tactics being employed to address the problem………………...……………….50 Strategies and tactics employed in selected oil and gas producing countries……….51 Application of physical security in oil and gas pipelines security management……53 Nigerian government strategies and tactics to combat vandalism of oil pipelines….56 Strengths and limitations of physical security deployment……………………….……….66 Page 4 of 220 Discussion……………………………………………………………………….……....….67 Chapter Three: Methodology………………………………….……………………….…….72 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………….72 Research design……………………………………………………………………...…………72 Research philosophy………………………………………………………………...………72 Case study methodology………………………………………………….…………………75 Research methods………………………………………………………………………………76 Sampling strategy………………………………………………….……………………......76 Semi structured interviews………………………………………………………………….81 Data analysis…………………………………………………………………………….….84 Ethical considerations………………………………………………………………….………86 Research experience……………………………………………………………...……………88 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………….91 Chapter 4: Participant perspective on nature and extent of the problem of Petroleum pipelines vandalism………………………………………...…......94 Introduction...............................................................................................................................94 Nature of vandalism..................................................................................................................94 Operational terrain…...............................................................................................................101 Skills/types of vandals………................................................................................................104 Foreign nationals’ involvement..............................................................................................108 Discussion..............................................................................................................................111 Page 5 of 220 Chapter 5: Participant perspectives on strategies and tactics being employed to address the problem...................................................................116 Introduction...............................................................................................................................116 Security forces deployment……………………………………………………………...……116 Physical security……………………………………………………………….…….………...120 Private security companies…………………………………………………...……..................124 Other stakeholders’ involvement………………………………………………………………129 Discussion……………………………………………………………………………………...133 Chapter 6: Participant perspectives on strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement of the current measures………………………………….……...137 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………...……137 Strengths of the current measures deployed in oil and gas pipelines security management…...137 Weaknesses of the current measures deployed in oil and gas pipelines security management…145 Ways of improvement………………………………………………………………...….……150 Discussion…………………………………………………………………………...……...….154 Chapter 7: Conclusion…………………………………………………………….….……...160 Summary of findings……………………………………………………………………...…...160 Implications of the research findings……………………………………………….………....164 Key recommendations…………………………………………………………………………168 Options for future research……………………………………………….…………………...173 Page 6 of 220 References………………………………………………………………………………....….174 Appendix 1: Semi structured interview……………………………………….…………...….197 Appendix 2: Letter of ethical approval…………………………………………………….…199 Appendix 3: Ethics review checklist UPR16……………………………………………...….202 Appendix 4: Participant invitation letter…………………………….…………………. …….203 Appendix 5: Participant consent form……………………………………………...….……...205 Appendix 6: Participant Information Sheet………………………………………….….….….207 Appendix 7: Draft letter to host organisation…………………………………………...….….211 Appendix 8: Evidence from external organisation showing support……………………….…213 Appendix A1: Some incidences of oil theft arrests in Nigeria 2009-2014 ………………….…214 Page 7 of 220 Acknowledgements Over the last four years, I have been pursuing one of the most challenging journeys of my life; avoiding distractions and keeping focused on the task in hand to achieve my goal. During these years many individuals have contributed significantly to ensure that this goal is achieved. I therefore wish to acknowledge and thank them. Foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor Dr. Alison Wakefield who was with me from the beginning of my journey through to the end, encouraging, guiding and mentoring me. I also wish to acknowledge my second supervisor Dr. Richard Kapend for his support during the research phase of this programme. I would like to recognise my employer the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) a former governing political Party in Nigeria, and currently a leading opposition Party, for allowing me the flexibility to conduct my research. I would also like to offer my sincere thanks to the twenty-two participants who took from their valuable time to be interviewed for the research, providing me with honest, thought-provoking,