The House of Representatives chairman of the Special Ad-hoc Committee on oil theft, Hon. Ado Doguwa, has commended the Commandant-general, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, for providing veritable leadership for the corps.
He acknowledged that under the Abubakar Audi’s led administration, there had been innumerable achievements in combating oil theft through arrests of suspects for illegally oil dealings, pipeline vandalism, destruction of illegal local refineries amongst others.
The committee chairman, who was represented by his deputy, Hon Sasi Oluwaseun Whingan, said the commitment of the Civil Defence boss in delivering on the agency’s core mandate despite the enormous tasks he is faced with is worthy of note.
He further hinted that crude oil theft has become a worrisome challenge hence all stakeholders must work assiduously to eradicate the menace which has negatively affected the nation’s economy.
He stated this at the corps national headquarters during an oversight visit alongside in the company of eight other members of the committee. He affirmed that Nigeria’s National Security Strategy (NNSS) document 2019 assigned the responsibility of protecting critical national assets to the NSCDC and as such the Corps as the lead agency in this regard must design technological approach to safeguarding the CNAI with the support of all critical stakeholders.
Hon. Oluwaseun decried the non-functional 5,000 kilometres oil pipeline and closure of some companies due to Oil theft as spelt out by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL, Alhaji Mele Kyari and the Presidential Special Investigative Panel on Oil theft/losses in Nigeria.
While assuring the CG of the lawmakers’ support in fulfilment of the NSCDC mandate, he charged the corps to develop a comprehensive review of the sector, audit and evaluation of risk assessment urging that the NSCDC must continue to collaborate with security agencies and reputable stakeholders to sustain CNAI protection and designate roles and responsibilities to all stakeholders.
He said the National Security Document 2019 page 28, explained the NSCDC’s Prosecutorial powers to arrest, investigate and in addition, prosecute suspects for their involvement in oil theft.