As the theft of crude lingers with the country losing billions of dollars on a daily basis, an investigative panel has vowed to expose the perpetrators if they do not desist from the act.
The chairman of the Special Investigative Panel on Crude Oil Theft/Losses, Maj Gen Barry Ndiomu, has promised to expose the perpetrators adding that the panel would not be afraid to identify and expose those involved in the economic sabotage.
Ndiomu made this assertion at the weekend when he led the members of the panel on a courtesy visit to the governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, who also urged the team to be fearless in the cause of their duties.
Also, the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the governor, Mr. Oguwike Nwachuku, said Ndiomu revealed that they were in Imo State on an important mission to engage the governor on finding a lasting solution to oil theft in Nigeria, knowing full well that Imo State is one of the oil-producing states badly affected by the menace of oil theft/losses.
Ndiomu stated that they equally came to tap from the technological know-how of the governor, which, he said, they would apply in their investigation to unravel the problem of pipeline vandalism.
He further called for Uzodimma’s support as they worked to stop oil theft for the benefit of the Nigerian economy and people.
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He promised that members of the panel were working towards submitting their report by the end of next month.
The governor in his speech said that two factors were responsible for oil theft were in the country’s internal and external security.
He advised the members of the panel to be courageous in discharging their assignment, describing the place of crude oil in the economy as ‘the brain of the country.’
Uzodimma wondered why the livewire of Nigeria should be left in the hands of a few individuals to “open the body and remove the brain.”
He commended the wisdom of the federal government in setting up the panel for “reducing the dangerous crime of oil thieves who are determined to cripple the economy of the nation.”
Uzodimma revealed that the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and other well-meaning persons had long suggested that a special committee be set up to unravel the crude oil theft in Nigeria and expressed happiness that the body has eventually been established.
He further expressed joy that in recent times the crude oil production level had increased and expressed confidence over the strength of members of the committee who he described as “men and women of impeccable pedigree.”
