The House of Representatives Special Committee on oil Theft/Losses made case for a special intervention fund for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) as enablement to effectively address the challenges of crude oil theft.
Chairman of the Committee, Alhasan Ado Doguwa, made the call on Tuesday August 13, 2024 during a special session on how special intervention funds are applied to combat crude oil theft, expressing displeasure with the lack of support for the NSCDC to aide it deliver on its mandate.
He said the Committee will ensure that the NSCDC is fully carried along in the war against Oil Theft and losses in Nigeria, urging the security agencies un attenadce of the meeting to speak up and share their challenges inorder for the Committee to make informed decisions that will help Nigeria.
“We commend the the Federal Government efforts in the protection of the oil and gas pipelines, flow stations, export terminals among others and the procurement, deployment of technologies in a bid to stem the monumental theft and losses of the nation’s hydrocarbon resources,” Doguwa said.
Commandant General of the NSCDC, who was represented by Deputy Commandant General, Philip Ayuba, told the panel that the core mandate of the Corps is to protect critical national asset and infrastructure across the Country, as he complained however that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited had not allowed them to operate effectively as well as deliver on their mandates.
He also disclosed that the NNPCL, the Central Bank of Nigeria and including the Office of the Accountant General of the federation have refused to incorporate them in the special intervention fund in the country.
Comptroller General of NCS who was represented by Oloyede Adekunle, Assistant Comptroller Custom, said they have not been receiving assistance from any establishment to carry out such roles.
