Reps Committee to collaborate with the military over oil theft

Mkpoikana Udoma

Port Harcourt — The House of Representatives’ Special Committee on Oil Theft says it will synergize with the Armed Forces and other paramilitary agencies to tackle the menace of crude oil theft in the country.

Chairman of the committee, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, made the pledge when he led other members of the committee on a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defense Staff at the weekend.

Doguwa assured that the House of Reps would continuously subject the Petroleum Industry Act to further legislative scrutiny and amendments to provide an efficient enabling environment for effective security operations.

He applauded the Armed Forces and other security organisations on the achievements recorded in recent times, which according to him, have helped in securing oil and gas facilities and uncovering several theft points used in depriving the country economic gains from crude oil.

According to him, the Chief of Defence Staff and NNPC Ltd recently inspected an illegal crude oil vessel loaded with thousands of metric tons of crude, which was intercepted by a private security firm, Tantita Security Services.

Responding, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, lauded the commitment of the House of Representatives to support the military in its efforts to secure Nigeria’s crude oil and gas assets.

Musa also assured that the Armed Forces on its part, would double its efforts in tackling all activities of crude oil theft in the country.