Economic Sabotage: Security agencies’ involvement in oil theft frustrating efforts in Rivers ─Wike

*Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State says the problem with ‘illegal oil bunkering is that security agencies are fully involved in this illegal oil bunkering’, thereby hindering the fight against illicit crude oil refining menace in the Niger Delta region

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

As the menace of illegal oil bunkering ravages several states in the Niger Delta region of the country, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said the Nigerian economy will remain vulnerable and weak, if the act of economic sabotage continues.

Governor stated that as illegal bunkering and artisanal refining of crude oil continue unabated in the region, he alleged that security agencies are also involved in the act of criminality.

ConsumerConnect reports Wike disclosed this development Friday, March 11, 2022, at the commissioning and presentation of 14 ballistic gunboats, the Rivers State Government donated to the Nigerian Navy, Army, Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at NNS Pathfinder, Naval Base, Rumuolumeni in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

Stolen crude oil refining site in the Niger Delta

According to him, the seeming frustration in the fight against illegal refining  of crude oil was caused by security personnel who were deeply  involved in the illegal activity or providing cover for the criminals.

Kelvin Ebiri, media aide to Wike, in a statement issued Friday said the Rivers State Governor also noted: “Most of the problem we have with illegal oil bunkering is that security agencies are fully involved in this illegal oil bunkering.

“That’s the truth. Civil Defence is involved. Army is involved. Police is involved.

“Navy is involved. Let us tell ourselves the simple truth.”

He restated that the Oil and Gas sector is the mainstay of the country’s economy, and Nigerians owe it as a duty to ensure that the economy is salvaged.

Woke further said: “All of us owe it a duty to see how we can salvage this country.

“80 per cent of the revenue of this country comes from oil and if we cannot reduce or stop this illegal oil bunkering, this country is in for problem. “And so, we must all work together to help this country.”

The governor, however, noted that his administration has remained committed to the fight against illegal bunkering and achieved tremendous results leading to reduced soot and oil theft in the area.

According to him, instead of commending the Rivers State Government for the feat, which has made oil production level go up, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited should rather discharge requisite Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) due Rivers State similar to what NNPC is doing elsewhere.

Wike urged the security agencies in the state to confine to Rivers, the use of the gunboats, other equipment and logistics, which the State Government had bought for them to tackle sea piracy and illegal bunkering activities.

Major-General LEO Irabor, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff 

Commissioning the 14 ballistic gunboats, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff, said maritime terrorism, oil theft and piracy are major challenges that the Navy has continued to confront consistently.

Gambo, who said Nigeria has exited the International Maritime Bureau global list of countries prone to piracy, thanked the governor for the donation.

He said Governor Wike’s initiative in the war against artisanal refining activities has given more impetus to the security agencies to brace up to the fight.

The CNS said there was need to emulate Wike, who has mustered the political will to wage war against operators of illegal refineries, with the support of Local Government chairmen who have identified and destroyed bunkering sites and arrested some perpetrators.

On his part, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral I.A. Dewu, lauded the governor for the donation, which he noted would complement the Navy’s efforts at eradicating illegal oil bunkering and refining in the state and the entire Niger Delta.

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