The Federal Government has developed a strategic roadmap to end crude oil theft in the country. The Chairman, Crude Oil Theft and Management Committee of the National Economic Council (NEC), and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, noted that oil theft has reduced oil production status drastically, causing untold hardship on the country as well as almost tampering with the margin of the currency.

He said: “Today, we met since the first meeting after the reconstitution to develop a work plan that will be used by the committee to be able to confront this case of crude oil theft headlong.

“We just developed a road map, an action plan that we will take. At this stage of preliminaries, we are trying to identify the areas of leakages and the likely causes.

“Our concern is to restore Nigeria’s oil production profile to either better what it used to be or at least, where it was, which is about two million barrels. We are committed not to disappoint the expectations of the national economic council.

“It is my hope that going by our deliberation, that we will be able to make the difference as our own contribution toward national development.”
Uzodimma said that the committee was constituted in 2023 by Vice-President Kashim Shettima following growing concern over crude oil theft.

Other governors at the meeting included Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori; Cross River State Governor, Bassey Out; Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, and the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Navy has lunched “Operations Delta Sanity” to further combat crude oil theft and other criminalities in the nation’s maritime space.

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla flagged-off the operation at the NPA Jetty, Warri, Delta. Operation Delta Sanity” replaces Operation Dakatar Da Barawo.

In his remark, the CNS said that Operation Delta Sanity was timely, considering the renewed effort of the Federal Government toward attaining sustainable development of Blue Economy.

He said that Operation Dakatar Da Barawo was launched in April 2022 to stern the tide of crude oil theft. Ogalla said that the menace of crude oil theft and illegal bunkering had constituted a substantial threat to the nation’s economic prosperity.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, thanked the Navy for ridding Nigeria’s maritime environment of crimes.He said that the Navy made giant strides in its maritime policing efforts in line with its constitutional mandate, especially through prevention of oil theft and others.He urged all participating units and formations to vigorously, and sincerely pursue the desired operational objectives of Operation Delta Sanity.(THE GUARDIAN)