Caging Oil Theft

An oil vessel surrounded by soldiers

For a lasting solution to incessant theft and illegal bunkering of crude oil in the Niger Delta, stakeholders gathered in Lagos, writes Maduabuchi Ubani

At Jasmine hall of the prestigious Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos last week, there was more to the exchange of pleasantries, nice ties and acquaintance. Each person in the hall was well aware of the pressing issue at hand; Oil theft.  It is a matter that has brought environmental degradation to communities, intensive loss of economic activities to coorporations and revenue loss to the government, resulting in inadequate funding for development initiatives.  And not only has oil theft increased criminality in the Niger Delta region, but it has also fuelled insecurity that now has international dimension to it.

Undoubtedly, the issue of oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta is no new topic to Nigerians. With a daily loss of 400, 000 barrels per day, it readily brings to mind that the problem has over the years seemed insurmountable.  But at the conference that was organised by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta which brought together prominent environmentalists, community leaders, academics, diplomats and other stakeholders, there may be respite in sight. The issue was not only discussed, but solution was proffered.

The Chief host and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, pointed out that the rate of oil theft and illegal artisanal refining of oil in the region is now so widespread that it deeply stifles traditional community life and damages legitimate economic activities.

And with conviction that the illegal business is the one that is undermining social structures in the region, Kuku was determined to exorcise the demon of oil theft in Niger Delta.

He noted that people involved in oil theft  in the region are feared, revered and even admired as people who are “doing well” in some communities and that has made many vulnerable, “with more young people now aspiring to be one of them to continue this growing and extremely dangerous venture.”

He said: “By some estimates, at the peak of our losses, we lost almost 400,000 barrels per day to oil theft and pipeline vandalism. It must be understood that this figure represents what the country is losing and not necessarily what is being stolen.”

Reiterating the commitment of President Goodluck Jonathan and other stakeholders in the sector to finding lasting solution to oil theft, Kuku pointed out that although the challenges have been enormous,all efforts are geared towards having a community -led plan that will stop the oil theft.

“I am confident that a community centered approach towards stopping oil theft holds many advantages because only zero tolerance is not good enough, rather objective efforts should be well deployed to restore our environment, employ people and contribute to the Nigeria’s economy. No effort is too little and none too big to be spared in this regard”.

With a number of discussants who raised issues on how Nigeria and the world can respond to increased oil theft in the Niger Delta and the roles for the Niger Delta people alongside the international community in stopping oil theft, the coast became clear on what practical steps are required to achieve result.

According to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba  whose speech focused on the importance of reducing the problem and finding a way forward, posterity will judge everyone’s actions if a more holistic approach is not taken to stop oil theft in the country.
Ezeoba harped on a more sustainable plan of action with global acceptance as a way out of the persisting problem, reiterating the fact that there is need enhance collaboration among the three tiers of government which will address capacity gap and also the issue of impunity which is prevalent in the country.

“The roles of the Nigerian Navy has been in the areas of surveillance, response initiative and enforcement, but all these things cannot achieve so much if there are no social imperatives for people in the that region, no constant review of corporate social responsibilities by oil majors and no improved opportunities for the youths,” he said.

He added: “It is a fact that there needs to be massive environmental resuscitation but again, products should be made available to the people of Niger Delta in order to give them a sense of hope and belonging.”

And while advocating for a stronger legislation to be put in place in order to achieve a remarkable feat, Commandant General, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, Dr. Ade Abolurin announced that there needs to be proper commitment which goes beyond the normal lip service that is being experienced in the country.

He identified acquisition of modern scientific equipment as paramount in helping to fight against oil theft adding that a lot can be achieved when there is existence of proper collaboration between the communities and security operatives.

“Our job is to safeguard the pipelines alongside the lives of people in the community. But it becomes a herculean task for us when people in the community that we have sworn to protect are seeing us as enemies who are trying to make them suffer amidst their own natural resources. So for me, everyone has a role to play and that includes the communities that need to give proper information to security operatives,  to enable us perform creditably well and be tactical and focused in this fight. There is also a role for oil investors to give back to all these communities where they make their living from,” Abolurin said.

For the Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobulokemi, the culture of insincerity and covetousness must be dealt with first. “Until it is given a massive reorientation, there is nothing much that can be achieved,” he noted.

According to Akpobulokemi, “Oil discovery has brought mental laziness on Nigerians and that has made the country to be backward in so many areas of development. We must think of alternatives and also bring about a robust surveillance scheme for communities to participate in because a military approach to the whole situation cannot solve the problem.

“I don’t advocate burning of tankers containing the products owned by all these oil thieves because I know of the environmental implications of such actions. I would rather ask for a proper scheme to be put in place that can be used in the onward development of these communities.”

Now, with community dwellers playing the roles of identifying characters involved in illegal oil bunkering in their domains, taking part in the process of decision-making in all aspects of resource management and becoming part of a comprehensive mechanism to defeat oil theft, there may truly be end in sight for oil bunkering in Niger Delta.

Similarly, with oil companies alongside security agencies and international community engaged in a conversation about installing meters at the point of production that would measure the quantity of oil produced, the days of the demon of oil theft may finally be over.

Other speakers and stakeholders at the event were the Commander of Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield, Major General Bata Debiro, Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited Corporate Head of Security, Brian Mair, prominent environmentalist Reverend Nnimmo Bassey and community leader Comrade Che Ibegura.