Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has raised the alarm that unidentified people are stealing crude oil and using aircraft to ferry the product out of the state despite amnesty granted to militants and provision of security at various oil facilities belonging to the country.

“Regrettably, experience has shown that the illegal storage of crude oil is perpetuated using property such as premises, caravans, vehicles, vessels, aircraft, and other forms of containers,” he pointed out.

The governor on Tuesday forwarded an executive bill to the Delta House of Assembly for consideration of a law to provide for the forfeiture of properties used for illegal storage of crude oil.

“Despite ongoing amnesty and other measures taken to address crude oil theft in the Niger-Delta region in addition to concerted efforts of the federal and oil-producing states in securing our pipelines, oil production challenges appear unabated as pipeline sabotage has continued to result in crude oil losses,” Mr Okowa pointed out.

The bill is contained in a letter read during the assembly’s plenary in Asaba by Speaker Sherriff Oborevwori.

“I wish to intimate the House of the state government’s desire to provide a bill for a law for the Delta State Forfeiture Law and other matters connected therewith,” stated the governor.

Mr Okowa added that the loss and high cost of operation had hampered the nation’s earnings from oil, negatively affecting Delta and other states.

“It has therefore become necessary to nip this ugly trend in the bud by ensuring that those who use or provide their property to commit an offence are held liable,” added the governor.

In view of the socio-economic benefit of the bill, argued Mr Okowa, “I wish to forward for the consideration of and passage of into law by the House, a Bill for a Law for the Delta State Forfeiture Law 2021 and any other matters connected therewith.”