Member representing Etinan/ Nsit Ibom /Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency, Mr Onofiok Luke has described as worrisome the setting ablaze of oil vessels allegedly involved in oil theft by security operatives.
Luke made the call while presenting a Matter of Urgent National Importance on :Urgent Need to Investigate the Circumstances of the Setting Ablaze of Oil Vessels Allegedly Involved in Oil Theft by Security Operatives during plenary today.
The lawmaker noted that oil theft has been one of the major issues that has plagued the nation and has negatively impacted revenue generation. He decried the situation where the country loses 470, 000 barrels per day amounting to 700 Million Dollars monthly.
“There has been several news reports that high-powered technology is applied in the stealing of crude oil (particularly at Forcados line) and transported through a four-kilometre pipeline to a platform in the sea with as much as 200 barrels of crude oil reported to have been stolen every day from the location since 2014”
Luke commended the responsiveness of the private security firm, Tantita Security Services in curbing oil theft which led to apprehending the illegal oil bunkering vessel and handing it to the security agency.
He called for investigation of the circumstances and reason for the destruction of the illegal oil bunkering vessel by the security operatives instead of preserving it for evidentiary use in court.
