The Federal University of Petroleum Resources Centre for Sustainable Development, FUPRE-CSD, has expressed its willingness to lead the effort to end crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal mining.
It noted that the scourge have cost the country over N4.3 trillion in crude oil losses in 7,143 pipeline vandalism cases over the last five years while also, pointing out endless list of minerals in Nigeria which are mined illegally and not accounted for.
“FUPRE-CSD has the solution to the financial leakages in the oil and gas sector of the economy, which have slowed the nation’s development. If FUPRE is elevated to perform optimally, the Centre for Sustainable Development will be able to assist the government in combating oil theft, which has crippled the nation financially and increased the cost of pipeline maintenance, replacement and other avoidable costs, forcing many multinational companies to close, while others relocate.”
Benjamin Atu
A statement by the Head of Media and Public Enlightenment, Centre for Sustainable Development, FUPRE-CSD, Ben Atu, said FUPRE-CSD was prepared to deploy relevant skills and expertise through regular community educational sensitisation and engagement on oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal mining. “Our decision is a call to higher national service in finding long-term solutions to the long-standing petroleum crisis that has rocked the nation’s financial fortunes through sustainable partnerships that can help address the surge in oil theft and vandalism, while also promoting sustainable development and environmental protection in the Niger Delta region,” the statement said.
In a communique by participants at the 4th anniversary and roundtable discussion on sustainable partnerships to combat crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal mining, held on World Earth Day by FUPRE-CSD in Asaba, Delta State, and jointly signed by Dr Emeka Elemike, Centre Director; Deacon Okezi Odugala, Deputy Director/External Partnership Liaison, and Green Activist Harrison Agboro, Director of Programme, on behalf of participant, the Centre called for strengthening of the political will and mainstreaming of the SDGs to serve as indicators for economic growth and prosperity.
The participants identified major causes of crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and illegal mining to includes poverty and lack of opportunities, lack of infrastructure and social amenities, grievances of the citizens with oil companies and government, weak law enforcement and inadequate surveillance, insufficient regional cooperation across borders and alliance of the vandals with host communities.
They, however, assured that with maximum collaboration and synergy between stakeholders, including government agencies, security services, civil society groups, professional bodies, religious groups, community associations, industries and traditional institutions, to combat oil theft and vandalism, FUPRE-CSD has all it takes to spearhead the initiative and exceed expectations through the road not previously taking in effort to combat oil theft.
The Centre lamented the devastating impact the triple maladies of oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal mining have had on Nigerians, the economy and environment, “Our duty as a centre is not to decry the issue, but to help bring the nation out of the crude oil theft.”
While acknowledging the efforts of the Tinubu-led Federal Government in combating oil theft, through the Office of National Security Adviser, Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, Nigeria Local Content and Monitoring Board, Niger Delta Development Commission and security agencies to stem the ugly tides, the Centre also recommended the urgent need for facilities upgrade by formalising local mining through cooperatives and technical training. They also advocated for the use of robust technology, such as drones and other monitoring devices as deployed by Saudi Arabia to monitor their crude oil from production to supply.
The statement also urged all Niger Delta state governments to prepare for developmental partnerships with the Centre in areas of sustainable development, as the centre’s activities affect all Niger Delta states and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).