The incessant occurrence of oil theft cases in Nigeria which have been identified as a setback to the oil industry has wreaked severe and unimaginable havoc to the sector. To this end, Former Chief of Policy and Plans, Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Henry Babalola (Rtd), has proposed to the federal government to prosecute individuals involved in oil theft for treason. Babalola criticized the government’s inadequate response to the theft problem, calling its attempts to eliminate the threat to the nation’s source of government revenue insufficient.
In his remarks at a seminar organized by the Defense Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) tagged “Achieving Presidential Mandate in Curbing Oil Theft and Securing the Nation’s Wealth,” in Abuja, Babalola argues that it is high time the government deal with the threat urgently. If the government does not take swift action, he warned, oil theft will devastate the economy of the country. He therefore exhorts the authorities to track down the people responsible for the oil theft, identify their role in the supply chain, and prosecute them.
Oil production has reach 1.5 million to 1.6 million barrels per day.
Timipre Sylva, the State Minister for petroleum resources, commented on the situation stating that President Muhammadu Buhari’s order to curb thefts in the nation is already showing positive impact. According to Sylva, oil production has recovered from the severe setback faced prior to the presidential directive, when it stood at 900,000 barrels per day, to reach 1.5 million to 1.6 million barrels per day. Horatius Egua, who acted as Sylva’s representative, claimed that the issues the oil and gas industry is currently facing are the result of years of negligence by previous administrations.
Alongside the danger of oil theft, Sylva claimed that previous governments failed to invest in the infrastructure of the oil and gas industry, leading to considerable blunder and pipeline ruptures. He did, however, pointed out that the current administration has made significant efforts to rebuild the sector’s infrastructure. For instance, the Port Harcourt refinery is already operating at 65 to 70 percent of capacity owing to the president’s directive, with the anticipation of even positive outcomes by the end of the second quarter of the year.
The tri-services’ ability was a key factor in the country’s success.
Dr. Ibrahim Kana, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defense said that the tri-services’ ability to work together in planning, coordination, and the execution of concrete programs and projects was a key factor in the country’s success in fulfilling the presidential mandate given to the ministry. According to Dr. Kana, who was represented by Mr. Sunday Attah, Ministry of Defense, Director, Army Affairs, the Nigerian Armed Forces and agencies of the ministry have gained more public support and understanding due to positive attitudinal change among Nigerians.
According to him, Nigerians are now very familiar with the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in securing the country and guaranteeing the safety of Nigerians against banditry, kidnapping and terrorism. He also praised the president for his swift reaction to the ministry’s requests for supplies for Nigeria’s military forces and for his direction in helping the ministry fulfill its constitutional obligations. And also, he acknowledged the president’s action in ensuring that the tri-services are rebranded with modern equipment.
All hands should be on deck in addressing the menace.
Remarking on the oil theft issue plaguing the country, Dr. Kana urged that all hands should be on deck in addressing the ongoing thefts, particularly the media. He affirms that Nigerians have high expectations of the media. Thus, it is incumbent upon the media to uphold this trust by publishing only news that can be independently verified as factual and is reported with the utmost patriotism and professionalism. In context of the NNPC’s admission of daily losses of 470,000 barrels, analysts have estimated that oil theft cost Nigeria N1.3trn ($2.9bn) in the first eight months of 2022.
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FG should charge oil thieves for treason. – Oil theft will devastate the economy if gov’t does not take swift action. – Express your point of view.
Oil theft is a significant challenge faced by many oil-producing countries, including Nigeria. Treason is a serious crime that carries severe penalties, including life imprisonment or the death penalty in some countries. Therefore, it is essential for the government to take swift action to tackle oil theft and mitigate the damage it causes to the economy and the environment.
I don’t think oil thieves can be charged for treason. Their crimes don’t show an element of treason but that of theft and stealing. They should be prosecuted.
Oil theft has been affecting our economy for years. Perpetuators of these barbaric act should be punished to the full extent of the law. But I don’t think that should be regarded as treason
The way government is handling this issue of oil thieves is very poor. Something i image if truly Nigeria government knows what they are doing. How Can something be affected the country economy and government are very slow in taking action that will stop the oil theft
The issue of oil theft we have been fighting it which is really affecting our economy reducing the amount of oil supply is high punishment is on oil theft I think it might reduce
The damage oil theft gave caused to our economy is not a little thing. Pipelines are been vandalized on a daily basis and they will still get away with it. They deserve such penalty.
Government should the oil thieves serious and take strict action on it so to reduce it because we are losing a huge fund in it
Perpetrators if oil theft deserve the most worst punishment ever cause what they are doing is really against every rule and is trespassing on national resources,
it is high time the government deal with the threat urgently. The oil thieves are already gaining ground with their operation mostly has the fi it successfully. Anyone caught should be charge with treason.
Enforcing such a brutal punishment on oil thieves is not totally a bad idea cause those people don’t even have conscience and vandalize government resources anyhow.
Oil theft is a very bad problem facing the oil sector and it is really affecting the economy badly and government should take drastic action on the offenders so as to stop people involving in the act.
We have been combating oil theft, which has had a significant negative impact on our economy. I believe that oil theft could be reduced if the penalty for stealing oil was increased.
The harm that oil theft has done to our economy is not trivial. Every day, people vandalize pipelines, and they still get away with it. Severe punishment for offenders should put an end to this
Oil thieves should receive the harshest punishments possible because they are breaking every law and stealing from their own country.
If the Federal Government want permanent solution to oil theft and pipeline vandalisation then they should provide the basic amenities, make food affordable and jobs available to those communities where these act occurs and the whole of Nigeria.
The issues of FG charging anybody for oil thieves and treason should not arise if the FG has not done needful for the communities and regions where the oil is been extracted and Nigeria as a whole. Pipeline vandalisation and oil theft will continue until basic needs of the people are met.