Multinationals aiding oil theft in Nigeria – Naval chief

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, has inculpated International Oil Companies operating in Nigeria of complicity in the larceny of the nation’s crude oil.

He additionally verbalized that the Navy would not pretend about the involution of the oil companies in crude oil larceny.

He verbalized at a meeting of the top leadership of the Navy and the Managing Directors/Chief Executive Officers of the IOCs in Abuja on Wednesday.

Jibrin verbally expressed it took him seven and a moiety months since his appointment to call the first meeting between the Navy and the firms to discuss solemn issues of concern in the oil sector, which included oil larceny and illicit bunkering.

The Navy boss additionally explicated that he made it clear that the CEOs should attend the meeting in person without representation because of the desideratum to discuss the issues, which he described as worrisome, but regretted that the request was ignored.

Jibrin verbalized some of the oil firms had deliberately left the manifolds of their oil wells open for years without conscious efforts to close them in spite of the fact that only experts had the capacity to reopen closed manifolds.

He admonished that the Navy would ascertain the apprehend of executives of the IOCs who decided to leave the manifolds of their wells open for years without closing them.

He withal threatened to deal with any naval officer found to have been involved in the malefactor larceny of the nation’s oil resources in accordance with the laws guiding the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

The CNS admonished that the Navy would transcend inculpating the firms to mentioning names of those suspected to be involved in the larceny of the nation’s resources.

Jibrin wondered why the oil chiefs had not given the expected cooperation in the bid to seek a concerted solution to the raging issue of oil larceny.

He verbally expressed the time had come for the oil firms and the security agencies to seek solutions to the issue of oil larceny in the country.

Jibrin verbally expressed, “This is the first meeting I am having with the oil firms to discuss the issue of oil larceny and illicit bunkering. It took us seven and half months to call this meeting, and concretely, we verbally expressed we don’t want representation.

“We have a solemn challenge and we require the commitment of the CEOs to discuss oil larceny. It has become worrisome that we have not been able to check the issue of oil wells. It has got to a point that in lieu of pointing incriminating fingers, we will mention designations, including those of the major stakeholders.

“We cannot pretend that the oil companies do not have a hand in some of these illegalities; pretending is to sanction it to perpetuate. We will not pretend. I can commence by citing some examples; some companies have left their oil wells opened for years and have done nothing to close them up. Because of the technical nature of the manifolds, once they are closed, only the experts can open them. Why have they been left open for years?”

He integrated, “I have pictures here. Why is it that all of us cannot sit down at a round table and provide a solution? Why are we denting the image of this country? It has come to a point that we must meet, discuss and provide solutions to issues pertaining to oil larceny.

“Government is apprehensive and those of us who are agents of the regime are additionally worried. On my component, if any of my personnel is involved, they will be dealt with adequately in accordance with the subsisting law of the Armed Forces.

“I have decided that I will take some steps that if the manifolds are left open for years and our attention is drawn to the desideratum for it to be closed, we will probe for and commence apprehending officials of the oil companies who own that and left them without taking congruous action.”

He verbally expressed that the regime was taking the issue of oil larceny earnestly because of the loss of revenue and the inimical effects of oil larceny on the environment.

Responding on behalf of the firms, the Chairman, Oil Producer Trading Services, Mr. Ayobami Olubiyi, verbally expressed that the companies had withal taken steps to curb the threat of oil larceny.

He recalled that the Federal Regime set up an ad-hoc committee on the subject, with some funds relinquished to address the pressing issues some months ago.

He verbalized the men of the Nigerian Navy were involved in securing the operations of the oil firm in the Niger Delta and Lagos.

Olubiyi verbally expressed, “It is not just the Nigerian Navy but all who have been fortifying our business. And I withal want to assure you that concerning oil larceny, we have taken an abundance of steps. That is why in the last couple of months, an ad-hoc committee was set up by the Federal Regime to look into this, and I am cognizant that some mazuma had been relinquished to avail curtail this situation.

“We will perpetuate to advocate a true platform; and as you are vigilant, we have a number of your officers and men who have been fortifying our operations in the Delta, including Lagos. They have been very professional in the way and manner they carry out this operation; and together with the CNS, I am sure we will all be able to work to ascertain that we mitigate this very lamentable situation in our country today.”