Nigerian gov’t moves to end crude oil theft
Story from Isah Aliyu CHIROMA, Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria says it is determined to end the activities of illegal refiners, pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft in the country.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, said this at Bonny Island, Rivers State while addressing officers of the 146 Battalion and other security agencies involve in the fight against oil theft.
Mr Sylva went to assess some illegal refinery sites at the Niger Delta region creek with the Chief of Defence Staff, Maj – Gen. Lucky Irabor, and Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari, among other dignitaries.
He said President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that all illegal activities must stop and had called for an assessment of the devastation occasioned by the activities.
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Addressing officers of the 146 Battalion, Sylva said, “you are here on a mission, I commend you for all the good work you have done. Our nation depends on this asset to survive, oil and gas is one of the major sustaining assets of the country.
“Unfortunately, we have had a lot of insecurity around oil facilities and pipelines, this can no longer be tolerated. The President has directed that this must stop.
“You are here as gallant officers to protect these facilities, henceforth, we will be working closely together to ensure that there is zero loss to our production.
“You have done well so far as the Chief of Defense Staff said, there is still ground to cover, so let us all work together and protect these national assets for the good of all,” the Minister said.
The Minister said the final solution to the problem required three elements which included involvement of the community, the government, security and the operating companies, as everyone has something to offer to the community.
He said the government is determined to stop it all illegal activities, because it could not afford the continuation of insecurity in the industry, adding that the days of the criminals are numbered.
“We are here to reclaim this industry for the country because the country has lost so much from the activities of these criminals and the government can no longer afford these activities,” Sylva added.
Also speaking, the Chief of Defense Staff, Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, said the assessment became necessary, because of the economic losses being witnessed in the oil and gas sector. He revealed that the economic losses were so huge and currently the economy of the country is at lost.
He charged the 146 battalion to revert the trend.
“Our drive is to look at the value chain within the oil and gas space and get the actual criminals and those supporting them.” Irabor added.
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