Breaking: FG threatens to name big men behind oil theft in Nigeria

Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, has disclosed that the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) would soon reveal the identities of highly placed Nigerians behind oil theft in Nigeria.

Appearing on a Trust TV programme, Shehu revealed that security operatives recently raided locations where illegal oil bunkering thrives as part of the plan to control economic sabotage in Nigeria, adding that oil theft is being tackled.

Shehu also disclosed that it is embarrassing for the country not to meet up with the quota given to it by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

According to him, “Oil theft is being tackled. The big problem we have in this country is that we ought to see more commitment from communities in assisting law enforcement agents. In some cases, where some actors in law enforcement are complicit, it becomes bad.

“We used to fight the OPEC for more quotas; now, they’ve given us and we aren’t able to meet up. This’s embarrassing. Security agencies are fully involved in stopping this act. I’m hopeful that in the next few days, the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) will be presenting to the country big men who are promoters of this kind of business as they’re being caught and illegal refineries are being bombed out.

“The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited is also installing a monitoring capacity to detect or advise immediately when sabotage of oil pipelines happens.”

Meanwhile, just last week, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested 120 Nigerians over alleged illegal oil theft.

The EFCC carried out a joint operation with personnel of the 6 Division Garrison, Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.