THREE main cabals,
comprising civilians and top military brass in collaboration with some
foreigners appear to be the forces behind the rising upsurge in oil theft
in which the country is losing more than N7 billion yearly, a
Saturday Tribune investi-gation, has revealed.
The figure represents
the total cost in the international market of 180,000 barrels being lost to
illegal oil bunkering per day, whereas the nation’s daily oil output is about
two million barrels.
comprising civilians and top military brass in collaboration with some
foreigners appear to be the forces behind the rising upsurge in oil theft
in which the country is losing more than N7 billion yearly, a
Saturday Tribune investi-gation, has revealed.
The figure represents
the total cost in the international market of 180,000 barrels being lost to
illegal oil bunkering per day, whereas the nation’s daily oil output is about
two million barrels.
Deeply concerned by the
menace, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, had
acknowledged the rising incidence of oil theft in the last 12 months.
menace, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, had
acknowledged the rising incidence of oil theft in the last 12 months.
It was discovered that
one of the cabals involved in the shady deal comprised some top military brass,
who have continued to wield an enormous influence within the polity.
one of the cabals involved in the shady deal comprised some top military brass,
who have continued to wield an enormous influence within the polity.
According to findings,
another group includes some powerful players in the industry, who usually
collude with certain external forces within and outside the shores of the
country to perpetrate the act of economic sabotage.
another group includes some powerful players in the industry, who usually
collude with certain external forces within and outside the shores of the
country to perpetrate the act of economic sabotage.
The third category was
said to comprise members of some Niger Delta militants, who were not captured
in the amnesty programme introduced in 2009 by the government for
militants that surrendered their arms.
said to comprise members of some Niger Delta militants, who were not captured
in the amnesty programme introduced in 2009 by the government for
militants that surrendered their arms.
A source in the Niger
Delta said the last three months had witnessed an upsurge in the
business, adding that the trend had “become more sophisticated than it
was prior to the declaration of amnesty in 2009.”
Delta said the last three months had witnessed an upsurge in the
business, adding that the trend had “become more sophisticated than it
was prior to the declaration of amnesty in 2009.”
Curiously, while the
leaders of ex-militant groups, who embraced amnesty were reportedly
disposed to stopping the menace, there were others who were either not part of
the amnesty programme or were not noticed during the Niger Delta crises and had
sprung up to engage in the business.
leaders of ex-militant groups, who embraced amnesty were reportedly
disposed to stopping the menace, there were others who were either not part of
the amnesty programme or were not noticed during the Niger Delta crises and had
sprung up to engage in the business.
As the situation
worsened, the security outfit in the Niger Delta otherwise known as “Operation
Puloshield,” (JTF) was already receiving knocks from a section of Niger Delta
politicians and businessmen over its alleged complicity in the activities of
the hoodlums.
worsened, the security outfit in the Niger Delta otherwise known as “Operation
Puloshield,” (JTF) was already receiving knocks from a section of Niger Delta
politicians and businessmen over its alleged complicity in the activities of
the hoodlums.
A major player in the
oil industry from Rivers State said, “if there is a rise in the activities of
these oil thieves, then the question should be directed at JTF and not those of
us in the oil industry. Ask them what their presence on the waters is. It
either means that they are not up to the task or because of their complicity
that
oil industry from Rivers State said, “if there is a rise in the activities of
these oil thieves, then the question should be directed at JTF and not those of
us in the oil industry. Ask them what their presence on the waters is. It
either means that they are not up to the task or because of their complicity
that
the activities of oil
thieves are on the rise. I can say that most of the JTF officials in Niger
Delta are representing the interest of one military general or the other. That
is why they cannot contain it.”
thieves are on the rise. I can say that most of the JTF officials in Niger
Delta are representing the interest of one military general or the other. That
is why they cannot contain it.”
The oil magnet,
who declined to be named because of the sensitive nature of the issue, said the
only way out of the problem was for the government to ensure that those
ex-militant leaders, who were working hard to sustain peace in the region were
involved without delay in the policing of the water.
who declined to be named because of the sensitive nature of the issue, said the
only way out of the problem was for the government to ensure that those
ex-militant leaders, who were working hard to sustain peace in the region were
involved without delay in the policing of the water.
He, however, expressed
worry that some estranged interests from outside the Niger Delta, were
deliberately frustrating such moves.
worry that some estranged interests from outside the Niger Delta, were
deliberately frustrating such moves.
Another player in the
oil servicing sector corroborated the claim and even declared that the
rate of oil theft had become more frightening.
oil servicing sector corroborated the claim and even declared that the
rate of oil theft had become more frightening.
The source, who was a
former commissioner in Bayelsa State, said the situation required urgent
government attention.
former commissioner in Bayelsa State, said the situation required urgent
government attention.
“The incidence of oil
theft in this region is very disturbing because it is worse than militancy.
What we now see is the outright collaboration of some security men in the
business. They are either there or they are represented by some of their
proxies in the region. Some of them sponsor jobless youths in the region to
engage in oil theft,” he alleged.
theft in this region is very disturbing because it is worse than militancy.
What we now see is the outright collaboration of some security men in the
business. They are either there or they are represented by some of their
proxies in the region. Some of them sponsor jobless youths in the region to
engage in oil theft,” he alleged.
Source: Tribune
