The Senate has appointed Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, as chairman of its ad hoc committee on crude oil theft, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced during plenary on Tuesday, February 11.
Notably, the creation of this ad hoc committee was a direct result of a motion sponsored by Senator Nwoko on July 25, 2023, titled “Need to Investigate the Incessant and Nefarious Acts of Crude Oil Thefts in the Niger Delta and the Actors.” This motion led the Senate to take decisive action to tackle crude oil theft by establishing the committee with a clear mandate, including:
•Investigating the involvement of security forces, militia groups, local communities, and oil company employees in crude oil theft.
•Directing security agencies to deploy advanced surveillance technologies, such as aerial drones, to safeguard oil installations and curb theft.
•Urging federal and state governments to establish conflict resolution mechanisms involving International Oil Companies (IOCs), host communities, and security agencies to address the root causes of oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
•Mandating the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to engage host communities, local and state government officials, IOCs, and security agencies in the protection of oil pipeline infrastructure.
While presenting the motion, Senator Nwoko emphasized the devastating effects of oil theft on Nigeria’s economy and the plight of oil-producing communities, noting that five of the nine local government areas in his senatorial district significantly contribute to the nation’s crude oil and gas production, yet these communities remain impoverished and lack access to basic necessities such as clean water, electricity, healthcare, and employment opportunities.
