The House of Representatives Special Committee on Crude Oil Theft has recommended the establishment of a special court to accelerate the prosecution of oil thieves and economic saboteurs.
The panel argued that weak laws and delays in the regular judicial system continue to hinder efforts to combat crude oil theft in Nigeria.
The call was made during a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Thursday, which brought together lawmakers, security agencies, and officials from the Office of the National Security Adviser to review the legal framework for addressing crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and related offences.
Chairman of the committee, Alhassan Doguwa, said participants agreed on the urgent need to overhaul outdated laws, many of which date back to the military era and fail to deter sophisticated criminal networks operating in the sector.
“We have also recommended in previous bills before the House the possibility of establishing a special court for these kinds of crimes because the crimes themselves are special,” Doguwa stated. “If we allow these criminal cases to go through the conventional court system, considering the delays involved, many of them will remain unresolved while the criminals escape appropriate punishment.”
He emphasised that Nigeria must update its legal instruments to match global standards in the oil and gas industry, noting that persistent theft and pipeline vandalism have kept crude oil production below budget targets, reducing government revenue and discouraging investment.
The lawmaker assured that the National Assembly, particularly through the committee, would partner with the Office of the National Security Adviser to tackle crude oil theft and other crimes in the oil and gas sector.
Representatives from the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps attended the meeting. However, Doguwa criticised the absence of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), describing it as disappointing and directing the committee clerk to summon the agency.
A member of the committee, Cyril Hart, said the panel’s mandate also includes ensuring oil operators develop their blocks within stipulated timelines or face sanctions.
Officials from the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps backed the proposal for a special court, stressing that stronger legislation and speedy trials are essential for effective deterrence.
Crude oil theft, illegal refining, and pipeline vandalism have plagued Nigeria for years, especially in the Niger Delta, resulting in billions of dollars in lost revenue, environmental damage, and reduced production. Despite occasional security successes, weak prosecution and lenient penalties have undermined long-term gains.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com