By Nafisat Makinde
The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, has reiterated the commitment of the National Assembly to tackle crude oil theft, saying the legislature is considering stiffer penalties for oil theft, including terrorism charges for major offenders.
“We are prepared to strengthen laws, enhance oversight, and ensure that agencies responsible for protecting our oil assets are held accountable,” Senator Akpabio said while declaring open a two-day public hearing on the incessant and nefarious acts of crude oil theft in the Niger Delta.
Represented by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin, he emphasized that the 10th National Assembly will not stand by while the country’s economy bleeds. “To the criminals stealing our crude oil, your time is up. To the agencies tasked with protecting our resources, the nation is watching. And to this Ad-hoc Committee, the Senate expects nothing less than a robust, no-holds-barred report that will guide decisive legislative and executive actions. It is time to take back what belongs to Nigeria,” he said.
The Senate President highlighted key measures to be considered, including:
- Stiffer penalties for oil theft, including terrorism charges for major offenders
- Mandatory digital metering and real-time monitoring of all oil production and exports
- Greater transparency in crude oil lifting and revenue reporting
- Enhanced collaboration between the military, police, NSCDC, EFCC, and international partners to track and intercept stolen crude
Senator Akpabio emphasized that oil companies must invest in modern surveillance technology and secure pipelines, while host communities must see themselves as first-line defenders of these assets, not victims or accomplices. “Security agencies must demonstrate zero tolerance for complicity,” he added.
