Former militant leader and Mayor of Urhoboland His Excellency Dr Eshanekpe Israel popularly known as Akpodoro has called on the Federal Government to publicly identify and prosecute individuals involved in crude oil theft warning that failure to act could pose serious risks to national security.
Akpodoro made the call on Wednesday while speaking at his Mayoral Palace in Abuja where he expressed concern over what he described as coordinated attempts to undermine efforts aimed at curbing oil theft in the Niger Delta. He condemned recent online publications critical of the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited describing them as deliberate attempts to discredit security operations protecting national assets.
According to him s on initiatives designed to secure oil infrastructure should not be treated lightly as they could encourage unrest and sabotage in the region. He urged law enforcement and security agencies to investigate the authors of such publications and take appropriate action where necessary.
The Urhoboland mayor specifically appealed to the National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and other relevant agencies to act decisively to stop what he termed organised efforts to weaken the fight against crude oil theft. He stressed that engaging private security firms to protect critical national assets is in line with global best practices and should be supported rather than undermined.
Akpodoro noted that oil theft had in the past severely impacted Nigeria revenue and crude oil production levels. He argued that the current surveillance arrangement has contributed to improved output and helped Nigeria better meet its obligations within the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries framework.
He further called for firm action against oil thieves and their collaborators insisting that persistent s on government programmes aimed at safeguarding national resources should attract clear sanctions.
Akpodoro maintained that protecting oil infrastructure remains vital to Nigeria economic ility and urged the Federal Government to remain firm and consistent in its resolve to combat crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.
Leave a comment