Oil theft: NSCDC Commandant reads riot act to Niger Delta commandants

Given the Presidential Order to rid the nation’s oil sector of economic saboteurs, including vandals, criminals, oil thieves, and other nefarious activities inimical to the growth of the sector, the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Audi, has read the Riot Act to NSCDC commandants in the Niger Delta states for full compliance.

Audi, who summoned the affected state commandants to the Corps’ national headquarters in Abuja, yesterday, gave them marching orders to immediately rejig their anti-vandal units to tackle oil theft and vandalism of critical national assets.

In a communiqué signed by the Public Relations Officer of the agency, he warned that President Bola Tinubu, had declared zero tolerance for crude oil theft, illegal oil bunkering, and other frivolous dealings in petroleum products, therefore, anyone found aiding and abetting economic saboteurs will face the full wrath of the law.

“This meeting became necessary to convey President Bola Tinubu’s directive on the need to end all sharp practices in the nation’s oil sector.
“Oil remains the mainstay of our economy. You must, therefore, rejig your anti-vandal units to end oil theft in compliance with the Federal Government’s directives.

“We have a duty to protect our oil and gas sectors from vandalism and prevent illegal bunkerers from destroying our oil installations, infrastructure and earnings” the CG stressed.

Audi charged the state commandants to maintain a 24-hour surveillance of the oil facilities across the country, work with host communities and gather enough credible information and intelligence to checkmate the menace.

He emphasised the need for safe-keeping of all exhibits, security of exhibits centres and strict adherence to the code of ethics and standard operating procedure of the Corps. He warned that his administration will not condone any compromise or unethical conducts from any command or personnel, promising to hold any State Commandant accountable for oil theft, acts of indiscipline, breakdown of law and order in their domains.

“As the lead agency in the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure, there is a need to be determined and reselient in the fight against crude oil theft.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is already changing the narrative for good and we cannot afford to let him and the entire nation down, ” he said.
Audi charged the personnel on synergy and collaboration with other security agencies as well as critical stakeholders to reduce crude oil theft to its barest minimum.