FG steps up oil theft probe, begins prosecution

The Federal Government has intensified its investigation into the enormous theft of crude oil in the Niger Delta, and all individuals found guilty would be prosecuted, according to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.Informaion Guide Nigeria

It was stated that the oil business was also collaborating with security forces and the private company tasked with pipeline surveillance in the oil-rich region.

In August, it was reported that the Federal Government awarded a pipeline surveillance contract worth N48 billion per year to a company led by Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, in an effort to combat the huge oil theft in the Niger Delta.

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Within two months of receiving the contract, Ekpemupolo declared the discovery of at least 58 unlawful oil theft locations in the states of Delta and Bayelsa.

The former commander of the militant group Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta recently informed journalists in Delta State of the discovery of a 4 kilometre illegal oil pipeline in the Forcados region of the state.

“I think we have found over 58 points that have been tapped in both Delta and Bayelsa states. We are doing this work together with the security agencies. We are only providing intelligence for the security people to assist to do the work,” he reportedly stated.Jamb Result

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“Since it is a breach against the law, whether on pipelines or not, the law will certainly take its course. But it is not NNPC that will handle that aspect,” he stated.

Muhammad added, “It is the law itself, the GCEO (Group Chief Executive Officer) said it on site when he visited the areas. He said when these people are found the law will take its course.”

On whether the oil firm had instituted a probe into the menace, the GGM replied, “Since the GCEO has spoken about it, you don’t need anybody to say anything else about it. You can use that as the final statement from the NNPC.”

Muhammed was alluding to the remarks made by the NNPC’s GCEO, Mele Kyari, during a recent meeting in Abuja, when he (Kyari) stated that the oil company has initiated a number of initiatives to combat the crime.

Kyari had said, “I’m happy to say that the interventions that we have seen in terms of the security measures we have taken, in collaboration with the government security agencies, with the private surveillance and security contractors, and the investments that we have done, we believe that in the next couple of days we will be able to bring back the Trans Niger Pipeline.”

The TNP has been shut down for several months due to crude oil theft on the line.

Kyari added, “And we will also restore production into the Forcados Terminal. That way we are sure that we can see at least 400,000 barrels coming into space. And as we continue to progress with security intervention, we will be able to bring back the other production facilities.

“There are a number of things we are doing, including alternative evacuation processes. Until we are able to secure the lines and restore their integrity, there are certain lines that we will not bring back into production.

“So ultimately, our aim is to get back the production and it is not out of control. We are getting back and you will see what will happen. Our security agencies are doing a great job on it.”

Kyari, when explaining why the monitoring contract was awarded to the ex-militant leader, maintained that it was not the first time such a contract had been awarded to a person in the region.

Regarding the contract, however, experts had divergent opinions. Others referred to it as a positive development, while others opposed it.

Prof. Wumi Iledare, Associate Editor of the SPE Journal of Economics and Management, questioned whether or not the move will increase crime in the region.

“That you have an individual having the know-how to stop the theft of a commodity that a whole navy could not stop leaves much to be desired. We only hope this will not further promote criminality in the Niger Delta,” he stated.

But on his part, the former President, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, Dr. Sam Nzekwe, said the pipeline contract would help curb oil theft and was in order.

He said, “It is not that our security agencies are not working, but the fact is that this man (Tompolo) is from the grassroots and understands the area more than the security officers. That is he has been able to see where these activities happen.

“He has more intelligence and that is why he’s making progress this fast. He knows the terrain better than those who were securing it in the past. So I think it is a good development because our desire is to stop oil theft.