Security agencies have accused some Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs), including oil companies and communities in the Niger Delta, of colluding to steal the country's oil.
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The security agencies said this when they appeared before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating crude oil theft and loss of revenue accrued from oil and gas in Abuja on Thursday.
A representative of the Nigerian Army, Gabriel Esho, a brigadier-general, who is in the army's department of operations, said actors responsible for oil theft are often encouraged by the agencies of the Federal Government. He said the international actors are the main perpetrators by lifting crude oil beyond approved license.
He said there is also sabotage on the part of employees of oil companies, adding that the issue around the overlapping effect of militancy was also a factor.
He said because of the huge market demand for products, there is a huge community involvement in bunkering and illegal refineries.
To check oil theft in Nigeria, Esho called for local involvement and investment in technology, prosecution of oil theft, legalising local refineries and remodeling of existing pipelines.
A representative of Nigeria Police, Alabi Abiodun, said, agencies of the Federal Government play a role in oil theft and some oil companies because of their skills including domestic and foreign involvement.
He said the police were able to put in place the task force to assist other security agencies in arresting those attacking oil facilities, and listed the factors responsible for oil theft to include attachment of people to their land, adding that they assumed that they must have a say or benefit from their land.
Also speaking, Hassan Abubakar, air vice marshal in charge of operation in the Nigerian Air Force, said oil theft had impacted negatively on the country's economy.
He expressed worry on the level of theft in the oil sector, saying "are we sure that the money gotten from oil theft is not what is used to destabilise this country."
He said the air force had been carrying out surveillance, adding that the "challenge is that our access is limited".
Continuing, he said, "So what we decided is to have dedicated access to only the Niger Delta region and we need the help of the National Assembly.
He said, "Over 90 per cent of oil theft takes place in the night, some of the courses I have attended only solve half of the problem. Only a kinetic approach can go far to solve the problem."
Speaking, Zacharia Muhammad, a rear admiral and chief of training in the Nigerian Navy, said there must be collaboration between the security agencies and government agencies to tackle oil theft. ■