Over the years, oil theft has assumed a monstrous dimension, giving successive Nigerian governments enough cause for concern. It does appear that the more the onslaught by the authorities to rid off the menace, the more daring and sophisticated the perpetrators become.
The situation where millions barrels of crude oil are lost to thieves who have willing international conspirators and accomplices, leaves the nation bleeding profusely with ominous economic consequences.
It is on record that the Federal Government not too long ago set up an inter-ministerial committee on crude oil theft, given the widespread outcry over the threat. While it is not clear what its submission is exactly, there is no doubt that oil theft which in itself is an unprecedented economic sabotage has left a gap in the nation’s dwindling revenue and indeed foreign exchange earnings.
Beside the international angle where large vessels are loaded off shore, using smaller barges, some engage in local illegal refining of oil, producing perhaps sub-standard and adulterated petroleum products. This also is part of the concern.
It has also been severally alleged that the unending oil theft has the backing of some top notch business and political class who are shielded by those in the theatre of operations. They are faceless so long as their ‘boys’ who actually do the stealing continue to shield them.
According to analysts and watchers, for large scale storage and ferrying of stolen oil, only those with the leverage and the financial capacity can foot the bill. Perpetrators are believed to be well-connected in some circles that bringing them to book is always an uphill task for the security agencies despite governments’ avowed commitment to stemming the tide. We are made to understand that oil theft is linked to highly placed individuals as average citizens can hardly afford the cost associated with lifting oil no matter how low the quantity.
Not too long ago, the military chiefs at the instance of the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, met in Abuja to deliberate on the way forward towards stemming the ugly trend. It was a consensus among them to synergize as a bloc as the military to end the plight of a ‘bleeding’ nation.
It was indeed in line with that resolve that the CDS, Gen. Christopher Musa inaugurated a joint monitoring team to enhance military operations in the South-South zone aimed at curbing oil theft.
The CDS during the inauguration stated that the establishment of the new team was intended to support the Federal Government’s goal of achieving a daily oil production of 2.2 million barrels.
He stressed that the role of the monitoring teams is to optimize military and security agency operations within the oil-producing region. “The objective is to assess military performance and report to commanders for improvement”.
He emphasised the collaboration between the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies, which has significantly contributed to the increase in daily oil production in the region.
The CDS efforts are no doubt commendable as he urged the team to work towards increasing the nation’s daily oil production to 2.2 million barrels per day. He also instructed the team to coordinate with the Joint Task Force, South-South Operation Delta Safe, and other security agencies and stakeholders in the oil sector to ensure smooth operations.
We are keen on seeing a more coordinated onslaught against oil thieves who are milking the country dry while feathering their own nests as we urge the newly inaugurated team to justify the confidence reposed in it by the military high command.
However, there are enough government agencies that can indeed mitigate the situation and reduce it to a far between instances as we know it may be difficult to wipe off completely the theft.
The security agencies including the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, already have a mandate before now to check this unending pilferage of our commonwealth.
The NSCDC and local security contractors should not forget their mandate of checking these disturbing drains on our economy.
