The House of Representatives has resolved to constitute an Ad-hoc Committee with a view to investigate and curb crude oil theft in Nigeria.Worried by the incessant cases of crude oil theft on the nation’s economic growth, the house said anyone caught in the act will face the wrath of the law.The resolution was reached sequel to the adoption of a motion by a member from Benue state Mr Phillips Agbese at plenary.
The lawmaker stated that the country has lost trillions of Naira as a result of crude oil theft and also loss of revenue from Oil and Gas exploration in the country. Mr Agbese expressed concern about reports which revealed that in 2021 alone, Nigeria lost $4 billion to oil theft at the rate of 200,000 barrels per day, saying the figures have risen since then.He also explained that 40 percent of crude oil loss is due to inaccuracies in measurement and metering errors
NNPCL intercepts 800,000 litres of stolen crude oil
A vessel conveying 800,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil has been intercepted by a private security contractor engaged by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC Ltd).
The vessel and its crew members were apprehended on July 7, by operatives of Messrs. Tantita Security Services at an offshore location heading to Cameroon.
Mr Garba Muhammad, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPCL., said this in a statement on Monday Abuja..
He explained that the Vessel, MT TURA II, IMO number: 6620462, was owned by a Nigerian company, HOLAB MARITIME SERVICES LIMITED with Registration Number RC813311.
According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the crude oil cargo on-board was illegally sourced from a well jacket offshore in Ondo State, Nigeria.
“There was no valid documentation for the Vessel or the Crude Oil Cargo on-board at the time of the arrest.“Further investigation into the activities of the vessel at the NNPC Ltd.
Command and Control Centre also revealed that the Vessel has been operating in stealth mode for the last 12 years.
”The last reported location of the Vessel was Tin Can Port in July 2011,’’ he said.
Mr Muhammad said that the details of the arrest and the outcomes of the investigations would be sent to the appropriate government authorities.
This, he said, was to destroy the Vessel to serve as a strong warning and deterrent to all those participating in such illegal activities.
