The House of Representatives’ Special Committee on Crude Oil Theft has joined forces with the Nigerian Navy to enhance the protection of pipelines and critical assets in the oil and gas sector, aiming to curb the rampant issue of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
During a meeting with the Chief of Naval Staff in Abuja, the committee, led by Chairman Alhassan Ado Doguwa, reaffirmed lawmakers’ commitment to supporting government initiatives aimed at revitalizing the economy through the oil and gas sector.
Chairman Doguwa, who also heads the House’s Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), stressed the importance of reviewing legal frameworks to empower security agencies in their operations both onshore and in remote areas.
Additionally, he suggested the possibility of increased funding for the Navy to bolster their policing efforts in safeguarding vital assets in the oil and gas industry.
Acknowledging the Navy’s efforts in securing pipelines, Doguwa emphasized the need for further collaboration to mitigate the economic losses caused by vandalism and oil theft, citing the establishment of the committee by House Speaker Rt. Honourable Tajudeen Abbas to address such threats.
In response, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, the Chief of Naval Staff, expressed gratitude for the committee’s support and pledged cooperation to fulfill its legislative mandate.
Oil theft
However, he raised concerns about the sluggish judicial processes for apprehended suspects, which he believes undermines the Navy’s efforts in safeguarding the nation’s economy. Ogalla urged the committee to establish a cohesive legal framework to streamline the activities of government security agencies and private security organizations, aiming for more effective results.
