The Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari, has sought the support of the judiciary in tackling the twin challenges of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
The GCEO also called on the judiciary to accelerate hearings on criminal cases in their courts, through timely determination of the criminal charges and imposing adequate punishments and sanctions on culprits to serve as deterrence to others.
NNPC Boss spoke at the National Judges Capacity Building Workshop on the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI) and INVESTIN 234, on Thursday in Abuja.
The GCEO raised concerns that the gains of the PIA have been severely undermined by crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
To reverse the situation, Kyari urged the judiciary to consider the creation of a special court to try offences related to crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism or granting accelerated hearings to such cases.
According to him, the role of the judiciary was critical to the success of the efforts of the various security arrangements put in place by NNPC, the law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders in the industry.
“In particular, is the recommendation that a special court be created to try those offences as they hinge on our survival as a country and/or for such trials to be conducted under an accelerated hearing process by the issuance of Practice Directions to that effect, with concomitant sanctions to deter would-be offenders,” Kyari stated.
In order to ensure that the oil and gas industry achieved its full potential as an enabler of national economic and industrial growth, Kyari restated NNPCL’s commitment to collaborating with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the PIA.
He added that “together, we can ensure that the benefits of our natural resources are maximised for the economic and social development of our country”.
Kyari also commended the Chief Justice of the Federation, Olukayode Ariwoola and the organisers of the workshop for extending the invitation to him and the opportunity to deliver a goodwill message at the workshop.
No fewer than 5,148 cases were recorded across several parts of the Niger Delta region by the NNPCL between January to June 7th 2024, out of which 339 pipeline vandalism were recorded across several communities.
Similarly, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, in April at the inauguration of the New Headquarters, Naval Training Command in Ebubu community, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, disclosed that Nigeria was losing an estimated 300,000 barrels of crude oil per day to crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
This he said resulted to revenue losses estimated at N1.29 trillion annually.
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