The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, Wednesday, advocated the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the fight against crude oil theft in the country.
The minister spoke Wednesday at the 3rd PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit in Abuja and said such application will accelerate all-round development of energy sector.
Speaking on the theme of the summit “the implication of energy security, Artificial Intelligence (AI), divestments, and crude oil theft on workers in the oil and gas industry, everyday Nigerians, and the economy at large,” the minister said stakeholders must chart a way towards addressing these challenges.
“This is in indeed heartwarming by all ramifications, considering the present situation of the petroleum industry in our dear country.
It is my earnest desire and expectation that it will be sustained in the years ahead.
“This event therefore becomes very historic and timely as it will provide the needed platform for the invited professionals, policy makers and stakeholders in the petroleum sector to deliberate on the present and future of our nation’s oil and gas industry, focusing on energy mix, security, divestment and the menace of crude oil theft as captured by the theme of the year’s summit with a view to providing access to cheaper energy which has become essential to the functioning of modern economies today and also suggesting ways and means to curb the nefarious activities of oil thieves amongst others.
“As you are aware, our rich endowment of petroleum resources has long been the lifeblood of our national economy, but sadly, today, we stand at the crossroads in dire need of its bye products such as premium motor spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol and other associated challenges.
It is therefore imperative that we come together to chart a new course if our country must overcome these challenges by identifying the nexus between national security and availability of natural resources for energy consumption for our people.
“Fellow comrades, in the spirit of unity and progress that define our great nation, let us use this summit as a platform to exchange ideas, share knowledge, and forge partnerships that will accelerate all-round development of our energy sector.
“We must seize the opportunity to deliberate and proffer innovative strategies, especially the application of Artificial intelligence (AI) for our oil industry in line with global best practices for generations to come, and more importantly, how to harness the opportunities that abound in the nation’s hydrocarbon future for indigenous oil companies in view of the recent policy changes and numerous upstream divestments by some International Oil Companies (IOCs) in this country,” he said.