President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday at The Hague, Netherlands said that the Federal Government has earmarked $1 billion for the implementation of a comprehensive programme to check crude oil theft and vandalism of of oil and gas infrastructure.
He spoke at separate meetings with the Prime Minister of The Netherlands, Mr. Mark Rutte and the Chief Executive Officer of Shell International, Mr. Ben van Beurden.
President Jonathan said that a technical committee had already been set up to look into all aspects of the implementation of the programme.
Besides, over the weekend, 17 suspected oil vandals and alleged oil thieves who were arrested last week by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were paraded at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Among those arrested were workers of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), even as seven trucks were also apprehended loaded with suspected stolen gas at different locations within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The President, who is in The Netherlands ahead of today’s opening of the 2014 Global Nuclear Security Summit with other world leaders like President Barack Obama of the United States (U.S.), Francois Hollande of France and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said the programme would cover the apprehension and prosecution of crude oil thieves.
This, Jonathan said, would include further action to enhance the security of pipelines and other oil industry infrastructure, resolve community-related issues; boost youth empowerment in oil-producing areas and enhance the commitment of oil companies to the discharge of their corporate social responsibilities.
A statement from the office of his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, quoted Jonathan as saying that the fresh onslaught against oil theft planned by his administration will require the maximum co-operation of the international community, especially countries like The Netherlands which are major stakeholders in the global oil industry.
According to the President, “Oil theft is an aspect of global terrorism which has become a big industry on its own. It has become a major threat to the Nigerian economy and we need to work with all stakeholders to curb it. The thieves must be traced, apprehended and prosecuted.
The Dutch Prime Minister, who remarked that President Jonathan’s visit affirmed the strong ties between Nigeria and The Netherlands, also assured the President of the willingness of his country to collaborate more with Nigeria on environmental and security issues, particularly in the Niger Delta.
He lauded Nigeria’s leadership role in promoting regional security in West Africa, and welcomed the signing of an agreement on immigration between both countries as well as the strong trade relations between Nigeria and The Netherlands.
His words: “The President’s visit is an open testimony of the strong ties between Nigeria and The Netherlands. Nigeria is The Netherlands’ main trading partner in Africa and The Netherlands is the second biggest European investor in Nigeria,” the Dutch Prime Minister said.
Parading the suspects, the NSCDC’s Commandant-General, Ade Abolurin, said the arrests were made in close collaboration with the State Security Service (SSS).
He said: “Six of the suspects were caught by operatives of the SSS while vandalising manholes around the Federal Secretariat at night while one was nabbed vandalising armoured cable in Sauka District, along Airport Road.”
While commending the officers for their efforts, Abolurin called on other security services to closely partner with each other to protect Nigeria from the activities of vandals and other economic saboteurs, saying: “The vandals attempted to bribe our men by offering them an initial payment of N200,000 cash out of N5 million or more if they let them go. But our men out of patriotism refused and brought them along with their money for further questioning.
He added that 10 others were also caught with adulterated gas and diesel, even as he observed: “It is a cartel. They have those they use at a particular level but we will continue to deal with the situation.”
The NSCDC boss said seven tankers were also seized, three of them being loaded with petroleum products from vandalised pipes.
Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/03/fg-earmarks-1bn-fight-oil-theft-pipeline-vandals-others/
He spoke at separate meetings with the Prime Minister of The Netherlands, Mr. Mark Rutte and the Chief Executive Officer of Shell International, Mr. Ben van Beurden.
President Jonathan said that a technical committee had already been set up to look into all aspects of the implementation of the programme.
Besides, over the weekend, 17 suspected oil vandals and alleged oil thieves who were arrested last week by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were paraded at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Among those arrested were workers of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), even as seven trucks were also apprehended loaded with suspected stolen gas at different locations within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The President, who is in The Netherlands ahead of today’s opening of the 2014 Global Nuclear Security Summit with other world leaders like President Barack Obama of the United States (U.S.), Francois Hollande of France and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said the programme would cover the apprehension and prosecution of crude oil thieves.
This, Jonathan said, would include further action to enhance the security of pipelines and other oil industry infrastructure, resolve community-related issues; boost youth empowerment in oil-producing areas and enhance the commitment of oil companies to the discharge of their corporate social responsibilities.
A statement from the office of his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, quoted Jonathan as saying that the fresh onslaught against oil theft planned by his administration will require the maximum co-operation of the international community, especially countries like The Netherlands which are major stakeholders in the global oil industry.
According to the President, “Oil theft is an aspect of global terrorism which has become a big industry on its own. It has become a major threat to the Nigerian economy and we need to work with all stakeholders to curb it. The thieves must be traced, apprehended and prosecuted.
The Dutch Prime Minister, who remarked that President Jonathan’s visit affirmed the strong ties between Nigeria and The Netherlands, also assured the President of the willingness of his country to collaborate more with Nigeria on environmental and security issues, particularly in the Niger Delta.
He lauded Nigeria’s leadership role in promoting regional security in West Africa, and welcomed the signing of an agreement on immigration between both countries as well as the strong trade relations between Nigeria and The Netherlands.
His words: “The President’s visit is an open testimony of the strong ties between Nigeria and The Netherlands. Nigeria is The Netherlands’ main trading partner in Africa and The Netherlands is the second biggest European investor in Nigeria,” the Dutch Prime Minister said.
Parading the suspects, the NSCDC’s Commandant-General, Ade Abolurin, said the arrests were made in close collaboration with the State Security Service (SSS).
He said: “Six of the suspects were caught by operatives of the SSS while vandalising manholes around the Federal Secretariat at night while one was nabbed vandalising armoured cable in Sauka District, along Airport Road.”
While commending the officers for their efforts, Abolurin called on other security services to closely partner with each other to protect Nigeria from the activities of vandals and other economic saboteurs, saying: “The vandals attempted to bribe our men by offering them an initial payment of N200,000 cash out of N5 million or more if they let them go. But our men out of patriotism refused and brought them along with their money for further questioning.
He added that 10 others were also caught with adulterated gas and diesel, even as he observed: “It is a cartel. They have those they use at a particular level but we will continue to deal with the situation.”
The NSCDC boss said seven tankers were also seized, three of them being loaded with petroleum products from vandalised pipes.
Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/03/fg-earmarks-1bn-fight-oil-theft-pipeline-vandals-others/
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