The House of Representatives decided Yesterday to investigate the circumstances and cause of the recent Niger Delta security operation's destruction of an illicit oil bunkering vessel.
It stated that the vessel ought to have been saved as evidence in the case's prosecution.
The resolution followed the consideration of a motion made in plenary by Onofiok Luke of Akwa Ibom State under the heading of topics of urgent public interest.
Luke introduced the motion, which was titled "Urgent Need to Investigate the Circumstances of the Setting Ablaze of Oil Vessels Allegedly Involved in Oil Theft by Security Operatives." He noted that oil theft has been a problem in the Niger Delta for a long time and has significantly worsened the environment in the area.
He said the unhealthy development had also negatively impacted on the revenue generation of Nigeria, causing the country to lose 470, 000 barrels per day, amounting to $700 million monthly, according to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL
“There have been several new 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.
“The responsiveness of the private security firm (Tantita Security Services) in curbing oil theft led to apprehending an illegal oil bunkering vessel and handing same to the security agency.”
”The House is disturbed by the reported destruction of the said vessel by security operatives instead of preserving same as evidence for prosecution purposes,” he said.