October 12, (THEWILL) – The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the circumstances and reason for the destruction of the illegal oil bunkering vessel by security operatives, instead of preserving it for evidentiary use in the prosecution of the matter.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion on urgent national importance moved by Rep. Onofiok Luke (PDP-Akwa-Ibom), at the plenary session on Wednesday, in Abuja.
Setting the pace for the motion titled: “Urgent Need to Investigate Circumstances of the setting Ablaze of Oil Vessel Allegedly Involved in Oil Theft by Security Operatives”, Luke said oil theft was a problem that had existed for a long time in the Niger Delta and that it had caused serious environmental degradation in the region.
He noted that oil theft has impacted negatively on the revenue generation of Nigeria causing the country to lose 470,000 barrels of crude oil per day amounting to 700 million dollars monthly.
Luke cited the recently-discovered four-kilometre illegal pipeline stretching from the Forcados oil terminal into the sea with as much as 200 barrels of crude oil reported to have been stolen daily since 2014.
“Notes that oil theft is a problem that has existed for a long time in the Niger Delta and has caused serious environmental degradation of the region and has negatively impacted on the revenue generation of Nigeria, causing the country to lose 470,000 barrels per day amounting to 700 Million Dollars monthly, according to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited; As well notes that there have been several new reports that high-powered technology is applied in the stealing of crude oil (particularly at Forcados line) and transported through a four-kilometre pipeline to a platform in the sea with as much as 200 barrels of crude oil reported having been stolen every day from the location since 2014″, Luke said.
According to him, the responsiveness of the private security firm, Tantita Security Services, in curbing oil theft, led to apprehending an illegal oil bunkering vessel and handing the same to a security agency.
Luke expressed worry about the reported destruction of the said vessel by security operatives instead of using the same as evidence for prosecution purposes.
“The House as well notes that there have been several new reports that high-powered technology is applied in the stealing of crude oil (particularly at Forcados line) and transported through a four-kilometre pipeline to a platform in the sea with as many as 200 barrels of crude oil reported having been stolen every day from the location since 2014.
“The House appreciates the responsiveness of the private security firm (Tantita Security Services) in curbing oil theft which led to apprehending an illegal oil bunkering vessel and handing the same to the security agency.
“The House is disturbed about the reported destruction of the said vessel by security operatives instead of preserving the same evidence for prosecution purposes”, he noted.
To this end, the House mandated the joint committees on Petroleum (Upstream), Security & Intelligence to conduct an investigation of the circumstances and reason for the destruction of the illegal oil bunkering vessel by the security operatives instead of preserving it for evidentiary use in the prosecution of the matter.
The joint committee is expected to report back within six weeks for further legislative action.
Recall that the Centre for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade has faulted the Nigerian military for setting ablaze the vessel laden with stolen crude oil intercepted by operatives of the privately-contracted pipeline surveillance team, Tantita Security Services.
