From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
House of Representatives’ Special Committee on Oil Theft has said it will collaborate with the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security organisations in the country to tackle crude oil theft.
The Chairman of the Committee, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, stated this, during a visit to the office of the Chief of Defense Staff General Christopher G. Musa, by members of the committee. Doguwa said the lawmakers were proud of successes recorded by the military and other security agencies in securing government facilities.
The lawmaker recalled that recently the defence chief and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) inspected an illegal crude oil vessel loaded with thousands of metric tonnes of crude oil that was intercepted by Tantita Security Services, a private security firm.
According to him, “we also commend the Nigerian military over its commitment to securing government facilities, improving production processes in the oil and Gas sector of the Nigerian Economy.”
Doguwa reiterated the resolve of the House to continue to come up with legislations to improve the socio-economic well-being of the oil producing communities. However, he admonished community leader to caution their wards to desist from sabotaging the economic potentials of the country in their areas.
The lawmaker, also promised that the House would continuously subject the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to further legislative scrutiny and amendments to provide for efficient enabling environment for an effective security operations.
This, according to him,, will give the legislation the impetus to assist the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration the much needed support to turn around the economy through the oil and gas sector.
General Musa, while appreciating the commitment of the House of Representatives to support the military in its efforts to secure Nigeria’s crude oil, assured that military on its part will double its efforts.
“I give you the assurances of the men and officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces under my watch of our commitments to collaborate and work with this committee for the good our great country and indeed our people,” he said.