Oil Thieves Are Nigeria’s ‘Worst Enemies’ – Senate President

Senate President Ahmad Lawan has condemned oil theft in Nigeria and referred to those responsible as the nation's "worst enemies."

The lawmaker made the statement on Friday during the National Assembly's presentation of the 2023 budget proposal at the Senate chamber.

While he commended the security agencies for their efforts in stemming the tide, the Senate President reminded them that there is more work to be done.

“Let me at this point commend our security forces for working harder. There is still more work to be done.”

The Defence Headquarters on Friday while briefing journalists, on the battle against economic sabotage, said that troops of the Nigerian Army discovered and destroyed a combined total of 74 illegal refining sites, 67 wooden boats, 6-speed boats, 456 storage tanks, 274 cooking ovens and 89 dugout pits.

"Troops recovered a total of over 3.76million litres of crude oil and 458,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, thereby denying oil thieves a total of over N2.1billion worth of stolen crude oil and products," The Defence Headquarters said.

However, Lawan in his remark said the Ninth Assembly which he chairs has been consistent in passing the Appropriations Bill before the end of the year so that it can be signed into law before the beginning of a new year and promised that the 2023 budget proposal would not be different.

“This joint session is going to be the last session for the Ninth Assembly to receive the Budget estimate for consideration and passage.

“The Ninth National Assembly has been consistent in passing the Appropriations Bill before the end of the year so that it can be signed into law before the beginning of a new year.

“I consider the oil thieves the worst enemies of our country.

"The thieves have declared war on our country and our people,” he said.

“I strongly feel that if we do not take the necessary measures to stop the thieves immediately, our economy will be devastated, as efforts to provide infrastructure and diversification of the economy would both be thwarted.

“It is time to take drastic and desperate measures against the thieves.”

Praising President Buhari's administration, Lawan added, "This administration has been consistent in the delivery of landmark infrastructure across the country.

"The 2023 budget should focus on completing a lot more of those projects."

After President Buhari’s presentation of the 2023 Appropriations Bill, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, described the presentation as historic "because it is the last of such presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari.”

“I assure you the National Assembly will prioritize this Bill and ensure it will be passed before the end of this year.

"The 2023 Appropriations Act will be a budget of consolidation.

“Nigerians no longer want to hear about crude oil theft.

"The question has now become ‘what are we doing about it?”

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on Tuesday said it had uncovered an illegal 4-kilometre pipeline from Forcados terminal to the sea and a loading port that had operated undetected for nine years.

Mele Kyari, the NNPC Limited Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), said this when he appeared before the Senate Joint Committee on Petroleum (upstream and downstream) and gas.