President Muhammadu Buhari has directed security agencies to end crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta before May 29.
Buhari, who gave the directive through the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, insisted that the Federal Government can no longer tolerate economic sabotage by non-state actors.
He was addressing troops of the Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe, in Effurun, Delta State and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, respectively.
The President’s directive was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by Sylva’s Senior Adviser (Media & Communications), Mr. Horatius Egua.
The statement reads: “Mr. President has mandated us to eradicate crude oil theft. He has directed that no litre of crude oil should be stolen in the country again, especially in the Southsouth.
“He wants crude oil theft eliminated by May 29, 2023, as one of the legacies of his government.
“Before the government’s renewed efforts in tackling crude oil theft, the nation’s daily crude oil production was about 900, 000 barrels per day. But scaled-up security efforts have jacked up production to about 1.5 million barrels per day.”
He urged security agencies not relent on their combined efforts.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC Limited), Mele Kyari, disclosed that the Federal Government had set up a special court to expedite the trial of oil thieves and pipeline vandals in the oil-rich region.
Kyari expressed confidence in the collaboration between security agencies and the private security company contracted by NNPC Limited in the campaign to restore full confidence in the sector.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Lucky Irabor attested to the improved crude oil production since the intense fight against oil theft and encouraged the officers to do more to achieve the President’s aspirations.