The ad hoc committee established by the House of Representatives to examine crude oil theft and loss of revenue from petrol has committed to reveal the identity of individuals responsible for oil theft in the country.
Rep. Kabiru Rurum, chairman of the committee, stated this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) ahead of the committee’s investigative hearing scheduled for September 7, 2023, saying that the oil sector remained the country’s major source of revenue, adding that the investigation would not be like previous ones.
According to him, oil and gas are the primary sources of the country’s riches, but the problem of oil theft has gotten worse by the day.
The Norwegian Embassy, which had earlier promised Nigeria assistance in three areas to stop oil theft, had been invited to propose a solution, he said, so the issues facing the oil sector and the likely remedy will be considered.
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He claimed that blaming security agencies alone would not be sufficient, and that all parties involved in the oil industry, including Chevron, Shell, and communities, should be held accountable. He also asserted that the main goal of the committee was to solicit suggestions from all parties on the best ways to prevent or reduce theft in the oil industry.
According to him, the committee had also invited the Nigerian Air Force, Civil Defence, Police Intelligence Agency, and Navy, which is in charge of looking after the country’s water resources.
He added that it would work in coordination with the National Security Adviser and that its advice would be stern because the government was aware of the major issues the industry was facing.
