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Special Adviser to the president on Niger Delta and chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku has accused foreign oil companies operating in the country of being behind continued crude oil theft, which has resulted in huge loss of revenue by the federal government.
Kuku, who spoke to State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, urged oil multinationals to rather participate in dealing with the issue which is an international crime.
“I know of one thing and this is the bombshell, that there are workers in the oil and gas industry who have the expertise, who have the technical knowhow, who know about the ways and means of sabotaging the oil and gas industry, who are likely to be involved. I also know and this is critical and I know that a lot of multinationals will be angered by this but their being angered does not bother me but what bothers me is oil theft that is affecting the revenue of this country, that is affecting the environment that I am from, that is very key for me.”
He said that crude oil theft is very specialised and mechanized and not a crime committed ordinarily by poor people.
“It is a crime committed by a very organised people but is a matter of demand and supply,” he stressed.
“So you have a situation where some pipeline protection contractors empowered by the oil companies, this is not about NNPC, it’s not about PPMC”.
The presidential aide challenged oil multinationals to look inward and assist the federal government’s efforts in tackling the menace.
“So the oil multinationals must look in wards, their contracting process, their procurement process, look at the status of some of their vendors and security contractors, x-ray them, review their processes very well and deal with the issue of oil theft as it affects participation in house in the oil and gas industry,” he added.
He explained that the federal government under President Goodluck Jonathan was taking concrete steps like to check crude oil theft and has even taken the issue to the United Kingdom, to South Africa and the United State of America.
Kuku, however, noted that against insinuations that some state governors where involved in the crime, he said to the best of his knowledge, he was yet to know any.
On existence of illegal refineries in the Niger Delta, the presidential aide said “yes we used to have illegal refineries but after Mr. President issued the directive, the Nigerian military have been expanding their mode of operation and rules of engagement in dealing with the issue of oil theft and bunkering.
“They have been able to wipe away the issue of illegal refineries particularly in Rivers and most other parts of the Niger Delta. The Navy in particular has been dealing with those involved in illegal refineries.”
