Oil Theft Investigation: What Reps Are Doing to Uncover Causes
On Thursday, the House of Representatives Special Committee on Oil Theft and Losses started looking into illegal crude oil activities in Nigeria to tackle the underlying issues affecting the industry.
The committee, led by Alhassan Ado-Doguwa from Doguwa.Tudun Wada Federal Constituency in Kano State, was officially launched by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. The event was attended by high-ranking officials from the military and police.
The committee’s job is to investigate oil theft and the roles played by criminal groups, local communities, companies, and security agencies.
During the event, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, speaking on behalf of Abbas, highlighted the severe economic impact of oil theft, noting that Nigeria loses around 437,000 barrels of oil daily due to theft, vandalism, and other crimes from January to July 2024. This loss amounts to over $10 billion. The theft not only cuts government revenue but also causes environmental damage, increases insecurity, and forces many companies to halt production.
Kalu also pointed out that corruption hinders sustainable development in the oil sector and expressed the parliament’s commitment to support anti-corruption agencies in tackling economic crimes.
George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting oil and gas infrastructure. He mentioned that over $1.5 billion has been spent in the past four years to address oil theft and enhance security.
Akume’s spokesperson, Maurice Nnamdi, added that this money has been used for improving surveillance, securing pipelines, and boosting law enforcement in key oil-producing areas.
Ado-Doguwa assured that the committee would work diligently in the best interest of Nigerians.
