Security Experts Chat Path To End Crude Oil Theft

According to these experts, the government must eliminate official complicity and bunkering in order to ensure transparency and accountability in order to end Nigeria’s crude oil theft.

The former Director, Army Peace Keeping, Maj-Gen Anthony Atolagbe, was among these industry players who shared their thoughts on a special program on channels TV to celebrate Nigeria’s 62nd Anniversary Day called “Channels Forum.”Kabiru Adamu, a specialist in security management and intelligence, and Tanwa Ashiru, a security risk consultant,
Atolagbe says that the Federal Government should look at a report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) about how to stop crude oil theft from hurting the economy and the environment.
He stated that prior to this government’s arrival, there was a NEITI report outlining ways to stop crude oil theft. If they could obtain this kind of document, perhaps something could be done.
He continued, “If we can key into some of these areas, we may not be able to stop everything in an absolute manner but may get some good results on the steps that have been taken to some reasonable extent.”
Atolagbe provided a breakdown of what the nation loses as a result of the menace of crude oil theft, describing it as a sociopolitical issue brought on by factors like price variation.
Nigeria is estimated to have lost N 2.3 million barrels (mb) in July 2022 alone and 28mb in total from January to July this year, resulting in a total loss of $1 billion due to crude theft in the first quarter of 2022, according to reports provided by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Adamu, on the other hand, held the opinion that the security agencies tasked with safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime border should be held accountable for the massive theft of the country’s resources.
He said, “We need to hold the security department in that region that has the responsibility accountable,” referring to the southern region of Nigeria, where crude oil theft has become widespread in the creeks that dot the area, particularly in the oil-rich Niger-Delta area in the South-South geopolitical zone.
Adamu went on to say, “It is incomprehensible for me to wake up and see that we have given that responsibility to a private individual.”
Consequently, condemning the Federal Government’s award of a pipeline protection contract to a company that Government Ekpemupolo, more commonly known as Tompolo, a former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, has an interest in.
Adamu went on to say, “We are allowing it to continue despite the fact that this matter is of such significance to our national existence and our economy.”Since we are not talking about quantities that would fit in a drum or even a tanker, this is frankly absurd;As a Nigerian, I find it embarrassing to discuss these quantities with the international community. They are moved at such a high rate.
Ashiru explained in her argument that illegal miners in a region of Nigeria paid state actors N500,000 each to protect them while they engaged in the illegal activity.
She argued that until official complicity is investigated, we will encounter difficulties with our resources.
I can apply this scenario to the Niger Delta, where illegal bunkering is prevalent.It is impossible to miss the location of this illegal bunkering if you are flying a helicopter with aerial access.