Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, Administrator of Rivers State, has called for stringent penalties and enhanced intelligence-led monitoring to tackle the persistent scourge of crude oil theft undermining Nigeria’s vital oil and gas sector.
Speaking at the Government House in Port Harcourt during a meeting with the Senate Committee on Incessant Crude Oil Theft, chaired by Senator Ned Nwoko, Ibas emphasized that lenient punishments only serve to embolden perpetrators, severely draining national revenue needed for critical infrastructure and development projects.
“Crude oil theft is an attack on Nigeria’s economic lifeline, threatening President Bola Tinubu’s bold reforms aimed at boosting production and funding the nation’s growth,” Ibas declared. He praised the Senate Committee’s investigative mandate and expressed confidence that its findings would help restore Nigeria’s economic stability.
Highlighting Rivers State’s strides in curbing pipeline vandalism, the administrator credited improved intelligence gathering and strengthened inter-agency collaboration as key factors.
He also pointed to ongoing partnerships with traditional leaders and community stakeholders, alongside plans to deploy advanced digital surveillance systems over oil facilities and integrate them with Port Harcourt’s cutting-edge ‘Safe-City’ security framework.
“As a leading oil-producing state, we are unwavering in our commitment to safeguard our resources. Our vision is a secure, technology-driven infrastructure monitoring system that deters criminal activities and enhances output,” Ibas affirmed.
On a national scale, Ibas urged the federal government to enforce tough judicial action against oil thieves, upgrade to tamper-proof metering systems, and address faulty meters that account for an estimated 40% of oil losses.
He also advocated for increased funding and capacity-building for the Nigerian Navy and other maritime agencies to extend surveillance efforts into backwaters and international waters, where large-scale theft often occurs.
Senator Ned Nwoko echoed these sentiments, pledging the committee’s dedication to dismantling sophisticated criminal networks operating both onshore and offshore. “We need the full cooperation of Rivers State to eradicate this menace. The theft transcends our borders and demands collective action to protect Nigeria’s resources,” he said.
The committee, inaugurated three months ago, is tasked with delivering concrete policy recommendations to the National Assembly aimed at cleansing the oil sector and safeguarding the nation’s economic future.
