The House of Representatives’ Special Committee on Oil Theft has resolved to collaborate with the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies to tackle the scourge.

The committee chairman, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, following the committee’s visit to the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff.

Mr Doguwa lauded the recent achievements of the military and other security agencies in uncovering facilities used to deprive the country of its crude oil.

He recalled that the defence chief and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) recently inspected an illegal crude oil vessel loaded with thousands of metric tonnes of crude oil.

The lawmaker said Tantita Security Services, a private security firm, intercepted the crude oil.

“We also commend the Nigerian military over its commitment to securing government facilities, improving production processes in the oil and Gas sector of the Nigerian Economy,” he said.

He said the House would continuously subject the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to further legislative scrutiny and amendments to provide for an efficient enabling environment for effective security operations.

Mr Doguwa believed this would give the novel legislation the impetus to assist President Bola Tinubu’s administration with much-needed support to turn around the economy through the oil and gas sector.

He reiterated the resolve of the House to continue to come up with legislation to improve the socio-economic well-being of the oil-producing communities.

The lawmaker, however, advised that leaders of the communities must warn their wards to desist from sabotaging the economic potential of the country in their areas.

The statement reported the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, as appreciating the commitment to supporting the military in its efforts to secure Nigeria’s crude oil.

He assured that the military, on its part, would double its efforts to collaborate and work with the committee.

This, according to him, would be for the good of the country and the people.

He lamented the delay in the prosecution process of those arrested for oil thefts. He added that such discouraged security personnel in their determination to fight criminals in the oil-producing areas.

(NAN)