From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The Senate warned on Thursday, May 15, that oil thieves in the Niger Delta may soon face terrorism charges and stricter penalties.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced this during a two-day public hearing in Abuja on “Incessant and nefarious acts of crude oil theft in the Niger Delta and the actors involved,” organised by the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Incessant Crude Oil Theft, chaired by Senator Ned Nwoko.
Represented by Deputy Senate President Barau J. Jibrin, Akpabio said the 10th National Assembly will not tolerate the loss of billions of dollars annually to “brazen economic sabotage”. He outlined legislative measures under consideration, including classifying major oil theft as terrorism, mandating digital metering for oil production and exports, implementing real-time monitoring, improving transparency in crude lifting and revenue reporting, and enhancing coordination among military, law enforcement, and anti-corruption agencies.
“Crude oil theft is not a victimless crime. It is directly responsible for economic instability, a weakened naira, underfunded critical sectors, and widespread poverty in oil-producing communities. It also finances illegal arms, fuels violence, and strengthens criminal networks,” Akpabio stated.
He noted that Nigeria loses an estimated 150,000 to 400,000 barrels of crude oil daily, costing billions in revenue, due to systemic failures and enforcement gaps.
“This public hearing must address critical questions: Who are the perpetrators? Are they militants, corrupt officials, international collaborators—or all three? Why have current security measures failed? And how are stolen shipments leaving the country undetected?” he asked.
Akpabio urged stakeholders—regulatory agencies, oil companies, security forces, and host communities—to collaborate. He called on oil companies to invest in surveillance technology and secure infrastructure and urged host communities to act as defenders rather than accomplices.
“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 a robust, no-holds-barred report that will guide firm legislative and executive action,” he declared.
Akpabio praised Senator Nwoko for convening the hearing and stressed that its recommendations must yield “actionable, measurable, and time-bound solutions”. He concluded, “The survival of Nigeria’s economy depends on how we respond to this crisis.”