Seriake Dickson, chairman of the senate committee on ecology and climate change, says the masterminds of oil theft in the Niger Delta reside outside the region.
In a report by NAN on Friday, Dickson said the “big players”
are based in Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the world.
The senator spoke during a visit to the Pere of Gbaramatu
Kingdom, at Oporoza, Warri, Delta state.
“Those big players behind the crude oil theft are not from
the region but are based in Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the world,” he
said.
“We have no means and
no capacity to engage in the high-level operations that result in the daily loss
of Nigerian crude oil produced from our place.
“Those who have the capacity to compromise and infiltrate
the national security system and infiltrate the national petroleum system;
those who have the capacity to hire the tankers and shuttle vessels, they are
not Ijaws.
“We do not have the capacity to do that! We do not even have
the experience to be involved in that kind of operation.”
Dickson said such high-level operations needed a lot of
resources, coordination, funding and international networking.
He urged Nigeria to step up her game in the international
arena by pushing for the designation of the country’s stolen crude oil.
“Those who, on a daily basis, underdeclare what is produced;
those who have refused to properly monitor and record what is produced for over
50 or 60 years should take the blame,” Dickson said.
“It is not the Ijaw youth – harmless people without the
capacity and without the technical know-how.”
Dickson also commended the traditional ruler for ensuring
peace in his kingdom and the entire Niger Delta.
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