The House of Representatives has commenced an investigation into oil theft in Nigeria, vowing to uncover the root causes and bring those responsible to justice. The probe comes as Nigeria loses an estimated $10 billion to oil theft in just seven months.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Rep. Ado-Doguwa, expressed determination to employ every legislative tool to address the issue, including inviting memoranda and presentations from key stakeholders, engaging in discussions with international and local oil companies, host community leaders, and relevant agencies.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, reiterated the Federal Government's commitment to securing the nation's oil and gas infrastructure, noting that over $1.5 billion has been spent in the past four years to combat oil theft.
The committee identified several critical issues, including inadequate firepower and weapons for security operatives, collaboration among government and security agencies in illicit activities, and inefficiencies in current measures to combat oil theft.
To address these challenges, the committee resolved to enact adequate legislation, including budget allocations to support security agencies, improve existing laws to combat crude oil theft, and collaborate with security agencies to prioritize the protection of national assets and critical infrastructure.
Former Deputy Speaker Idris Wase warned the committee chairman, Ado-Doguwa, to be prepared for threats from oil thieves, noting that his job is dangerous and that he will face people who are sabotaging Nigeria's economy.