Hard times await those involved in the activities of crude oil theft, as the Nigerian government has directed the Navy and Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to take firm measures against any ship caught engaging in unwholesome activities.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, made the stand of the Federal Government known yesterday during a briefing session with the Diplomatic Corps in Abuja.
Ashiru told the diplomats that there would be no clemency for any ship or members of its crew caught in the process.
He said the issue of crude theft has remained a major challenge, as the country has continued to lose huge revenues arising from these criminal activities.
Nigeria is said to be losing 400,000 barrels of oil at N7.35billion daily to the activities of criminals in the oil sector.
The minister, who explained that the briefing on recent happening in Nigeria has become necessary so as to ensure excellent relations with the international community, said: “The Nigerian Navy and the NIMASA have been directed to take firm measures against any ship caught engaging in unwholesome activities, including oil theft in Nigeria’s territorial waters.”
While also soliciting for the cooperation of the diplomats to address the scourge, the minister warned that unlike in the past when foreign suspects were released as a result of pleas by their ambassadors, he said this would no longer be the case.
He said no amount of pleading would make the government release the ship or crew members caught henceforth.
He said: “In the past, ambassadors had come to plead that we should release either the ship or crew members that were caught in illegal activities. This is serving as a warning that henceforth I will not yield to their pleading for release of their ship or crew members that are caught in illegal activities. So it is the duty of the ambassadors to make sure that this message is sent all over the world, so that foreigners will not come here to deal in illegal activities.”
He also announced to the diplomats that the Federal Government has set up a high-level committee headed by the Attorney General and Minsiter of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, to tackle this challenge.
On the issue of gay right, Ashiru stressed that it is not in agreement with the culture and religious beliefs of the generality of Nigerians and no country can impose it on Nigeria.
He noted that respect for human rights of a minute minority cannot be at the expense of the larger societal values.
He said: “We don’t tell other countries how to leave their lives. We don’t impose values on any country and that is what democracy is all about. Other countries too should not come and impose their own values on us. We don’t oppose any country that has put in their constitution the gay rights, for man and man to get married, or two women to get married.
“We don’t oppose it, but for Nigeria and a number of African countries, it is not part of our culture yet and this thing must be told because we have been under pressure, but it is not part of our culture and you must understand that. Let us get to that stage of understanding that two men can get married, but please, we are in this profession together, let us educate our home governments that we cannot just come over night and put that which is not part of our culture.
“That we must put it in our constitution, it is not done. If you talk about democracy, it is about free choice and free association.
“For those who have gay rights, if you look at their number, they are very few and in some of the countries, the churches are against it. So why putting pressure on Nigeria that we must have gay rights. Everything should be gradual. I don’t know; may be we will have children who would want to pursue gay rights.”
He also accused the champions of gay rights as hypocrites for denying polygamists of their rights which is part of the culture and value of some countries. The minister, therefore, noted that there is the need to balance the situation.
He posited that laws are rooted in culture which must be upheld for the good of the society. He, therefore, appealed to the international community through the ambassadors to show a greater understanding of the culture and traditions of the Nigerian people.
The minister, who also spoke on the issue of death sentence in Nigeria said it is still part of the law and not until it is reviewed, nothing can be done about it.
He also advised the diplomats to explain to their home countries that democracy in Nigeria is still evolving.
He said: “When you write your reports, you should be able to let your home governments know the perspective you are reporting. Nigeria, for instance, the criminal code which we are using was handed over to us.
“There are countries with advanced democracy. There are some which have been in it for 100 years. But we are just starting and there is need to allow democracy to strive.
“Diplomats should understand that is what we operate under for now. When we grow to the level of advanced democracy which we are striving very hard to do, then we will be considering the review.
“After all, the champions of this today had it in their criminal code before. The one we are operating was handed over to us. And I want all diplomats to understand this and not just run to judgement that death penalty is still operating in Nigeria.”
He also added, “I need not add in this regard that Nigeria is certainly not the only country where the death sentence is upheld.Although there is a moratorium on death penalty, this will continue to be determined by the appropriate authorities, including the state governments who ·exercise the prerogative under the law.”
Ashiru, who also commented on some of the fundamental errors committed by most of the embassies in the country by writing directly to the president, warned that such infraction would no longer be tolerated.
Ashiru, who was visibly angry over the infraction, said: “I have also noticed that some missions have resorted to dealing direct with some agencies of government when they have important matters. This should not be so. All such matters should always be referred to the ministry which remains the channel of communication with government.
“ I have had occasions in the past to advise missions to desist from writing direct to the State House on any matter. This is a clear breach of established channel of communication which will no longer be condoned. In the same vein, some ambassadors and their diplomats have continued to make comments on political issues that amount to undue interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs.
“ This is incompatible with the status of diplomatic missions or agents. We will not hesitate to identify and deal with erring missions which fail to respect Nigeria’s sovereignty.”
The minister, who commended the diplomats for some level of improvement noticed in the treatment of Nigerian visa applicants, however, said: “We are still concerned about the rate of rejection of applicants by some countries.”
On the military activities in the north east, the minister debunked the report in the foreign media that the military are engaged in exra-judicial killings.
The military, he said, has continued to operate under their rules of engagement.
He, therefore, noted that the report of the rights of the people being abused is unfounded. The Nigerian military, Ashiru stressed, has a record of service globally.
In the general, the minster said the country has made tremendous progress and normacy is gradually returning to most parts.
The minister warned the ambassadors against direct involvement in the country’s internal issues. He warned that they cannot use their platforms to interfere in internal issues of the country.
