Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive to security forces and intelligence agencies to combat crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.
The announcement came from Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), following a four-hour closed-door meeting with defence and security chiefs in Abuja.
The presidential order follows a recent report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), which revealed that the country lost $1.84 billion worth of petroleum products from refineries over a nine-year period.
Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, who led the meeting, pledged to eliminate all acts of vandalism and criminal activities in the South-South region. “What we are promising Nigerians is that henceforth, the entire South-South will be cleared of any acts of vandalism, criminality within the general area,” Musa stated.
The high-level meeting included the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and representatives from various security and intelligence agencies.
Kyari emphasised the critical nature of the issue, saying, “Without restoring oil and gas production, we cannot have the economic stability that we desire.”
Gen. Musa announced plans to harmonise operations among security agencies, promising visible results within the next two to three months. He also appealed to local communities for support and understanding, acknowledging past trust issues but assuring a different approach moving forward.
Inspector-General Egbetokun echoed the commitment to addressing the challenges, calling for cooperation from all agencies and citizens. As Nigeria grapples with economic challenges, the government’s renewed focus on curbing oil theft signals a determined effort to secure a vital national resource and boost economic stability.
