Nigeria Government Committee Meets Over Crude Oil Theft, Develops Action Plan To Block Leakages

The National Executive Council (NEC) Committee on Crude Oil Theft and Management on Wednesday had its first meeting in Abuja with a promise to restore Nigeria’s oil production profile and improve it.

The meeting held at Imo Government Lodge, also developed an action plan and roadmap that would be used to confront crude oil theft head on, and resolved to identify the areas of leakages, likely causes and way forward.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, chairman of the committee and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, said they will make a difference as their own contribution towards national development.

Other Governors present at the meeting include Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Lucky Aiyetadiwa (Ondo), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Mai Bala Buni (Yobe) and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

Members of the committee after its reconstitution in December are the Governor of Ogun State representing South-West; Governor of Plateau State (North-Central); Governor of Rivers (South-South); Governor of Borno (North-East); Governor of Jigawa State (North-West); Governor of Abia State (South-East); Minister of Budget and Economic Planning; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy; CBN Governor; GCEO of NNPCL, NDDC Chairman, and Service Chiefs.

The Secretariat is domiciled at the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning while the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr Tope Fasua is also a member of the committee.

Uzodinma said, “You recall that last month December, 2023 the National Executive Council (NEC) met and, among other deliberations, reconstituted the Committee Against Crude Oil Theft and this is consistent with growing concern of stakeholders on this menace called crude oil theft that has reduced our production status drastically and has

caused untold hardship to the country and almost resurfacing margin of our currency. 

“Today (Wednesday), we had the first meeting since after the reconstitution to develop a work plan that will be used to be able to confront this case of crude oil theft head on. It is my hope that going by our deliberations, we will be able to make the difference as our own contribution towards national development.

“We just develop a roadmap, an action plan, it is an action stage of preliminary. We are trying to identify the areas of leakages and the likely causes and what has been made possible.

“But our concern which is the concern of all Nigerians is to restore the Nigerian oil production profile to either better what it used to be or at best where it was and we are committed not to disappoint the expectations of the National Economic Council.

“We are just starting, we can’t predict ourselves, it is not prophecy. We will do a thorough job, and we will impress stakeholders, as soon as the problem is solved, the committee will die.”

Friday Olokor, Abuja

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