Nigerian Government Officials Are Engaging In Oil Theft, Under-Reporting Crude Production – National Security Adviser

The Special Investigative Panel on Oil Theft/Losses in Nigeria from the Office of the National Security Adviser, retired Maj Gen Babagana Monguno, has submitted its report in Abuja.

In a statement on Tuesday, the spokesperson for the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Zakari Usman, said the panel received and reviewed several memoranda and reports on oil theft and losses in its findings.

Usman said the report indicated that it was challenging to detect oil theft due to the roles played by regulatory agencies and their officials.

While submitting the report, the chairman of the panel, retired Maj Gen Barry Ndiomu said the panel discovered several layers of involvement in the illegal theft of crude oil despite the best efforts of the armed forces and other security agencies to combat oil theft.

“The panel also observed that crude oil losses arose from a lack of proper reporting of crude oil production, illegal refining, theft from wellheads and diversion from sophisticated pipelines networks. The panel also attributed losses to the absence of a robust industry-wide metering system and an unworkable security arrangement,” Ndiomu explained.

He added, “The confusing roles of regulatory agencies were also cited as being responsible for making the detection of theft/losses difficult.”

Ndiomu mentioned that the panel engaged key stakeholders from state governments, ministries, departments and agencies, security agencies, regulatory agencies, international and indigenous oil companies, traditional institutions, host communities, artisanal refiners, etc.

Ndiomu called for quick implementation of the report and asserted that if the government implemented the recommendations in the report, oil theft/losses would be adequately addressed, stressing that prompt implementation of the report would not only immediately impact crude oil production levels to meet OPEC’s quota but would also attract foreign direct investment and serve Nigeria’s economic and national security concerns.

Monguno assured President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime would study the report and see its immediate implementation, especially the recommendations with short-term perspectives.

On December 6, 2022, the NSA inaugurated the investigative panel with extensive terms of reference to investigate all aspects of crude oil theft/losses in all its ramifications.

The panel was expected to investigate oil theft/losses in all its ramifications and propose wide-ranging implementable recommendations to enable the administration to take decisive action to end the criminal enterprise within the shortest possible time. The panel was given 10 weeks to complete the assignment, effective from the inauguration date.

https://saharareporters.com/2023/03/28/nigerian-government-officials-are-engaging-oil-theft-under-reporting-crude-production

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo has hinted that some personnel are colluding with criminal elements to sabotage efforts of the Nigeria Navy at curbing illegal bunkering and crude oil theft in the country.

He made the disclosure at the decoration of the newly promoted Rear Admirals in Abuja, where he warned that any personnel caught would be made to face the stiff penalty of the law.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, who was at the event, tasked the Navy on the elimination of crude oil theft in the country.

A total of 30 Commodores were promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral, and each of them was decorated by a member of their family alongside an officer. In the midst of the celebration, the CNS urged them to remain loyal to the President and the country as a whole.

He said the Nigerian Navy has recorded achievements in the fight against illegal bunkering and oil theft. However, Gambo disclosed that some personnel are colluding with criminal elements to sabotage the efforts of the navy.

He warned that any personnel caught sabotaging the measures that have been put in place by the navy will meet a stiff penalty and the wrath of the law.

https://www.channelstv.com/2022/12/21/some-personnel-colluding-with-criminals-to-steal-crude-oil-naval-chief/ Mynd44 nlfpmod Seun

Since OBJ na. . . .
Na today?
The reason they don't want OBI to be president.
All dem nyansh go h-opin yakataaaa. . . .

Meaning that Buhari still failed only as President but as well as minister of Petroleum. Otherwise how can the NSA explained to Nigerians how crude oil theft is going on unabatedly being perpetuated by officials under a sanctimonious anti-graft fighting regime headed by President Buhari?

These findings have continued to vindicate Peter Obi who told the whole world that the economic menace of crude oil theft is an organized crime within govt off-the structure of criminality. They alleged he was playing politics or blackmailing the govt.

"...The national security adviser (NSA) Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd) observed that the problem of oil theft has developed to disturbing levels.

“This is because the criminals have now increased the level of sophistication, considering the various methods they employ to tap primary pipelines with illegal secondary pipes to load on barges and sell to international collaborators, or to process locally for illicit domestic sale....."

Abeg who is the minister of Petroleum? Tell that it is President Buhari! Who is the C-in-C? Same Buhari right? Then why are you his NSA sitting idle and shining your ass in Abuja? Get these criminals arrested, prosecuted, convicted and punished accordingly no matter who they are and stop disturbing the cyber space.

What do you expect when our president is the minister of petroleum resources? It is under his regime that crude oil was discovered in the north. Isn’t that a miracle??

After digging oil wells and storing stolen crude oil inside, they’ll tell us they discovered oil in the north. We go dey alright las las

Wike is a usel3ss man. That's my problem!

This NSA always act as if he isn't part of the government

Oga Mugonu you are part of FG so write an Internal memo to Presidency and Ministry of Petroleum under Buhari to expose the thief

For 8 years, Buhari didn't initiate and implement one major reform that he will be remembered for.

Even the infrastructure he built, he borrowed money to do them without plans of how to repay the loan. That man just wasted Nigeria's 8 years.