Name companies involved in oil theft, Reps ask Naval chief

The chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, has to name the international companies involved in oil theft in Nigeria’s coastal waters, the House of Representatives has said yesterday.

The House, which resolved to investigate the allegation made by Vice Admiral Jibrin recently at a meeting with oil companies in Nigeria, threatened to expose the international oil companies who aid and abet oil theft in the Nigeria’s coastal waters.

Rep Hassan Saleh (PDP, Benue), in a motion, told the House that it was scary that the Chief of Naval Staff would voice his frustrations in such a manner, which “calls for serious concern from all, particularly with the nature of information at his disposal.”

Hassan said the oil companies have not been giving the desired cooperation to the Nigerian Navy “and this is the most disturbing as the Chief of Naval Staff has also accused some of those oil companies of creating an enabling environment that aids oil bunkering.

“The issues of oil theft is one major economic challenge that is facing the country, as it is adversely affecting the nation’s financial well-being, leading to the loss of several billions of dollars.”

The lawmaker lamented that only few “unpatriotic elements” have been profiting from the country’s wealth at the expense of the vast majority of citizens.

He said the Naval Staff boss made the allegation “to express his dismay and frustration at the nonchalant attitude of some of the Chief Executive Officers of the International Oil companies.”

The committees of petroleum downstream and upstream as well as that of justice were given 30 days by the House to investigate the allegation and report back.