Senate Probe Crude Oil Theft in Niger Delta

The Senate has opened an investigation into Niger Delta oil theft and has characterized the 53-year-old threat as nasty.

In order to do this, the Senate has instructed its Committees on Petroleum Resources, (Upstream, Downstream), Gas, Host Communities, and Niger Delta to carry out exhaustive investigations on oil thefts across the nation.

The Senate expressly instructed the committees to look into the conduct of security forces, militia organizations, local residents, workers of oil companies, and any other parties accused of utilizing advanced techniques to steal oil from domestic oil installations.

This came after a Ned Nwoko (Delta North) motion calling for an urgent investigation into the persistent and criminal acts of crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

Senators Ede Dafinone and Richard Blumenthal both co-sponsored the motion.

In his opening statement, Nwoko claimed that Nigeria’s economic development and progress were heavily dependent on crude oil.

He claimed that according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the oil industry contributed 6.33 percent of the country’s GDP, or 45.6 billion dollars in 2022.

According to him, oil and gas exports accounted for 90% of Nigeria’s exports and 85% of its government revenue in the first quarter of 2022, respectively. Oil and gas also play a significant part in Nigeria’s economy by financing 70% of the country’s budget.

Sen. Mpigi Barinada (PDP- Rivers) spoke in support, calling for a proper investigation into oil thefts in the Niger Delta and highlighting the difficulty in collaborating.

Oil bunkering, according to Senator Osita Izunaso (APC-Imo), is a significant economic sabotage for Nigeria and a complex problem.

According to him, the issue called for long-term solutions rather than one-time fixes.

Senator Buhari Abdulfatah demanded that legislation be reviewed to include sanctions for offenders.

It is time to put an end to oil theft in Nigeria, said Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC-Edo), who urged the Senate to aid President Bola Tinubu in the fight against oil thieves.

He criticized the theft of so much oil, calling it disgraceful.

Godswill Akpiabio, the president of the senate, stated that he firmly feels that the Armed Forces were in a superior position to secure the nation.

The committee was therefore asked by the Senate to present its