The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources has stated that government was working towards ensuring that various challenges like pipeline vandalism and crude oil-theft are ŕeduced through the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
According to a statement by Mrs. Oluwakemi Ogunmakinwa, Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, government has acknowledged that AI “solves complex problems in ways that are similar to human logic and reasoning”.
She quoted the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Amb. Nicholas Agbo Ella, as saying so 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 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,” she stated.
Earlier, the Director Midstream and Downstream Department in the Ministry, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, said the aim of the engagement was to explore the transformative potential of advanced technologies in shaping the future of the petroleum industry, adding 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.
He pointed out that the Stakeholders’ Engagement would delve into various aspects of incorporating machine learning and artificial intelligence into the national petroleum policy.
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 engagement.
