“Oil Theft: Palaces, Religious Centres Are Outlets,” Says NNPC

“Oil Theft: Palaces, Religious Centres Are Outlets,” Says NNPC

Mosques, Churches, Palace Amongst Others Traced To Oil Theft

In recent months, it is no longer news that Oil theft has become major concerns around oil-producing areas.

On Saturday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) voiced its displeasure over the large amount of illegal oil theft within the country, citing that it had shocking traced illicit underground pipes chanelled to religious places, like Mosques and Churches, and also to Royal palaces.

The national oil company also stated that daily production of crude oil from the present 1.7 million barrels could achievably be boosted to 3 million barrels per day. Oil Theft: Palaces Religious Centres Are Outlets

Olufemi Soneye, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, stated this in Abuja amidst a Stakeholders Engagement Session with the National Assemble Press Corp.

He pointed at various challenges militating against the oil sector which must be swiftly addressed if we must resuscitate the nation’s economy. “Oil Theft: Palaces, Religious Centres Are Outlets,” Says NNPC

He recalled how a vessel which was earlier apprehended due to oil theft was later rearrested for the same crime three months later, citing low rate of persecution or no persecution at all of criminals in the country which encourages more people to engage in sorts of criminal activities.

In his statements, “I want everyone who is listening, there is a problem. If we do not take care of these issues, there is a problem.

“In November last year, we went to look at a vessel that was caught with crewmen. The chief of army staff was there, the military, air force, the police. It was a very large vessel with about 23 crewmen on board.

“They were arrested and handed over to the military. But it interests you that sometime this year, around February, the same vessel was caught in another place.

“Now you ask, what is the prosecution rate of those stealing the oil? It is less than two per cent. So you can see the result when you see over 2,500 folks being arrested, but then the prosecution rate is two percent.

“It’s a very difficult challenge for NNPC” Soneye answered while answering a question from the press. Somebody was asking the question, why do we engage private security firms? It’s a very good question, he responded.

Another question was asked: isn’t the military or law enforcement are not doing their job?

Soneye answered, “No, they are doing their job. I can’t stand there and say they are not doing their job. But I will just say this.” “Oil Theft: Palaces, Religious Centres Are Outlets,” Says NNPC

Soneye also made a claim that it is illegal and unconstitutional to let non-state actors oversee national assets, stating that there had not been times, in the past, when crude oil production level fell below 900,000 per day.

“At that point, the NNPC knew we were in trouble And then we sought help by discussing with the community leaders and private security. And with the help of the private security, production went up to about 1.5 million barrels.

“Now the president formed a committee formed with the military. And working together with the private security companies, now we are between 1.6 and 1.7 million barrels.

“Have the private security really helped us? Yes, they have. Are the military doing their best? Yes, they are.

“But the important thing that we should take away from here still goes down to what Mr. Durotoye was saying about us being exemplary in what we do.

”If you take a trip to those places you will see at times that some of these pipes are inserted, if you trace them some of them go into churches, some into mosques and some into palaces of kings.”

Murtala Muhammad, Deputy manager, Command and Control of the NNPCL, revealed that the company had discovered and destroyed more than 8,000 illegal refineries within the short pace of six months across the country.

He also noted that over 5,800 illegal pipeline channels which were uncovered, had been destroyed during that same period. “Oil Theft: Palaces, Religious Centres Are Outlets,” Says NNPC

Muhammad highlighted the urgent need to combat oil theft and vandalisation of pipelines across the country, with emphasis placed on oil-producing states.

The consequences of this menace remain threat to economic growth and sustainability, and constant crude oil production in the country’s oil producing states like Bayelsa, Rivers, Imo, Abia, among others. “Oil Theft: Palaces, Religious Centres Are Outlets,” Says NNPC

Narratives

For many years, Nigeria’s economy has solely relied on production and sales of crude oil which constitutes more than two-third of its earning and about 90% of foreign exchange income.

However, the chronic oil theft perpetrated in the oil-producing states of the country has succeeded in shrinking its national revenue.

Crude oil sales, which used to bring about constant boost in Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings, has diminished it due to damages on the pipeline and oil theft across the country.

It can be recalled, in April, that Nigeria’s oil workers implored President Bola Tinubu to swiftly look into the matter by deploying more security personnel to the zone to combat the menace.

A call which promoted the Nigerian Navy, in the same month, to recruit additional 1,486 personnel to strengthen security operations around the area in a bid to boost the country’s crude oil output by eradicating the illegal operations.

In an interview once hosted by DW which featured Emmanuel Ogalla, the Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff, the Naval boss stated that operations and aims of the Niger Delta is to minimise oil theft and boost oil production in order to bring about boost in the nation’s economy.

“Mr. President has given us a matching order to conduct our operation to eradicate this menace of oil theft and without any restrictions,” he said, adding the eradicating oil theft was non-negotiable.

“With the recovery of massive quantities of stolen crude oil products, dismantling of illegal refining sites, arrest of suspects, all [of] which has underscored the resolve of the Nigerian Navy to stamp out crude oil theft,” Ogalla told DW.

The efforts to eradicate the illegal activities remain to be felt and seen as the menace continues to thrive despite combative efforts by the security personnel.

“Oil Theft: Palaces Religious Centres Are Outlets,” Says NNPC “Oil Theft: Palaces Religious Centres Are Outlets,” Says NNPC