Oil Theft: Military To Enforce, Ensure Transparency By IOCs In Niger Delta

The Nigerian armed forces has disclosed plans to enforce and ensure transparency by international oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region of the country.

The director, Defence media operations, Major General Edward Buba in a statement yesterday, said the military was rejigging its strategies in the Niger Delta to combat oil theft and boost production.
Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, recently accused international oil companies of frustrating crude oil supply to his refinery and also manipulating pricing.

Local refiners also backed Dangote’s claim, making the House of Representatives to launch a probe.
General Buba said, “Accordingly, the redesigned strategy aims to curb the menace of crude oil theft through a comprehensive approach. Operations would therefore be conducted through a unified command structure for all security agencies operating in the Niger Delta.

“Additionally, operations would target specific areas that have significant capability to boost crude oil production. The targeted areas includes, but are not limited to enforcing and ensuring transparency by International Oil Companies operating in the region.

“Others are; ensuring the integrity of the metering systems deployed at flow stations. Operations will also embark on the tracking of point of loading to destination point of the crude oil,” he said.

General Buba said the military would also concentrate on surveillance of the pipelines, jackets and well head to forestall breaches.

He said the operations would galvanise the support of the people of the Niger Delta as well as the stakeholders in the oil sector to support the drive to boost the nations oil production.

“Importantly, operations will ensure prosecution of culprits engaged in crude oil theft” he added.

On military operations, he said troops in the week under review, killed 125 terrorists, arrested 200 persons, and rescued 140 hostages.