The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said there is a need to set up special courts to try and prosecute crude oil thieves and pipeline vandals.
This is in an attempt to curb crude theft situation in Nigeria’s oil industry.
The Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari, made this disclosure on Thursday while briefing the House of Representatives on Nigeria’s crude oil production situation.
The alarming theft of Nigeria’s crude oil has affected Nigeria’s ability to benefit in periods of high crude prices.
While briefing the legislators, Kyari said “There is the need for us to upgrade the advocacy by setting up special courts to try and prosecute crude oil thieves and pipeline vandals. The impact of their activities on our economy is huge and we can’t allow them to bring the country to its knees.”
He added that the NNPC is not helpless as it is determined to address the menace.
“There is currently a coordinated action by the FG to curtail the situation. Nothing will be left out; every agency of government is involved in this. Ultimately, we will contain the situation,” he said.
Recall that Chairman of UBA Banking Group and Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, recently raised an alarm that the reason Nigeria cannot meet its crude oil production quota and benefit from high oil prices is due to theft, as Nigeria is losing up to 95% of oil production to thieves.
