Nigeria Senate on Wednesday lamented the frequent cases of oil theft menace in the Niger Delta region, saying these have caused
huge loss of revenue to the federal government
The sponsor of the motion, sen. Nwoko Chinedu Minir, representing Delta North in Nigeria Senate highlighted the need to address the issue of oil theft and its attendant consequences on environment and the economy of Nigeria.
He noted that Nigeria is largely dependent on crude oil for its economic growth and development. “The oil sector provides jobs for millions of Nigerian citizens and also provides for 70% of the budget financing while oil and gas accounted for 90% of export income and 85% of Government revenue in the first quarter of 2022”, he said.
He decried the negative impact of pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering, oil theft, illegal oil refining has brought Nigeria into serious socio-economic crisis and remains an intractable challenge to the Nigeria oil dependent economy.
The Niger- Delta senator commended the efforts of the Joint Task Force of the Nigeria military in curbing oil theft in the area which has resulted to increase in oil production but urged the military to ‘purge’ itself of those who sabotage their efforts to achieve set objectives .
In a related development, Sen. Nwoko while addressing journalists in National Assembly condemned the killing of 2 year old by the operative of NDLEA in Delta state.
He insisted that the securty operatives must be tolerant no matter the provocation , maintain high ethical standard and observe all operational guidelines in discharge of their duties.
“Security officers should be very disciplined the way they use those guns. We can’t afford to have so many such incidents anymore. What I expect is that they should start investigation to unravel what really happened and the culprits should be brought to book . whatever it is that led to this must be properly investigated and on time too.
“Therefore , anybody who handles a gun must be psychologically fit and mentally fit, must be physically fit to do so and it goes just beyond that, it is about the discretion of the officer who carries gun. It can’t be justified that a too year old Child had life snuffed out of him without knowing what happened and what offence he committed. and the brother who is a year might not use his eyes anymore. ”
He urged all the stakeholders including the National Assembly, the president and the Inspector General of Police to make there interest known in this case and demonstrate the desire to protect the sanctity of human life.
The senator opined that the full wrath of the law must be meted out on the perpetrators of this heinous crime.
” Just like the army has Courtmarshal, and other security agencies have theirs, the appropriate punishment must be meted out on the perpetrators of this barbaric act. ”
Senator Nwoko urged the relevant authorities to ensure that adequte compensation is given to the families that suffer this condemnabe act by security operatives .
“Beyond that I expect reasonable amount of compensation not just for this family but any other family that has found itself in this situation ,” he said .
“I actually think that I will sponsor a bill for a commission that will be set up to carter for such unforeseen situations where the victims and families are left alone. It shouldn’t be so.
In abroad as I know, any family or victims of such crime are fully compensated by government and so if a bill of this nature becomes a law will be able to take care of such people.”
He decried the delay in justice system in Nigeria which doesn’t give families confidence and hope to explore all legal avenues to remedy the injustices meted out on them. Thus, the need to have an Independent body vested with powers and responsibilities to intervene on issues between the security agents and citizens .
