LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has reached out to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for assistance in addressing the persistent issue of crude oil theft across the country.
A statement disclosed on Monday by the chief corporate communications officer of NNPC Ltd, Olufemi Soneye, it was revealed that the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, made the appeal during an interactive session with the Executive Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, at the NNPC Towers in Abuja.
Mr. Kyari emphasized the urgency of tackling crude oil theft, describing it as the most significant economic crime in Nigeria due to its magnitude and brazenness.
He highlighted the challenges faced by NNPC Ltd in combating crude theft, including the deactivation of thousands of illegal refineries and the disconnection of numerous illegal pipes connected to pipelines in the Niger Delta region.
“These illegal activities have severe consequences for our operations and the nation’s economy,” Mr. Kyari stated. “We need the EFCC’s support to effectively address this menace and ensure the security of our oil infrastructure.
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“As we continue to do our best to deepen transparency and stamp out corruption from the system, there is one big challenge that you will need to help us with, Mr Chairman. That challenge is crude theft,” Mr Kyari said.
Addressing concerns about corruption within NNPC Ltd, Mr. Kyari reaffirmed the company’s commitment to upholding high ethical standards.
He stressed the importance of automated processes to prevent discretionary actions that could fuel corruption.
In response, Mr. Olukoyede commended NNPC Ltd’s efforts to promote ethics and code of conduct but urged management to enhance monitoring and enforcement to deter corrupt practices effectively.
The surge in pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft incidents in Nigeria’s oil-producing region has posed significant challenges to the country’s revenue generation.
Despite initiatives such as the launch of a monitoring application and the awarding of pipeline surveillance contracts, crude theft remains a pressing issue, prompting international oil companies to reconsider their investments in the onshore sector.