By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

The House of Representatives’ Special Committee on Oil Theft has promised to collaborate with the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security organisations in the country to tackle the scourge of crude oil theft in the country.

The Chairman of the Committee, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, made the promise when he led other members of the committee on a visit to the office of the Chief of Defense Staff.

Doguwa said the committee was proud of some of the achievements recorded in recent times by the military and other security organisations in securing government facilities and uncovering several facilities used in depriving the country of its crude oil.

He recalled that the Chief of Defence Staff and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) recently inspected an illegal crude oil vessel loaded with thousands of metric tonnes of crude oil that was intercepted by Tantita Security Services, a private security firm.

“We also commend the Nigerian military for its commitment to securing government facilities and improving production processes in the oil and gas sector of the Nigerian economy,” Doguwa said.

He also promised that 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.

This, he believes, will give the novel legislation the impetus to assist President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration with the much-needed support to turn around the economy through the oil and gas sector.

The Chairman also 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 but advised that leaders of these communities must warn their wards to desist from sabotaging the economic potential of the country in their areas.

Responding, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher G. Musa, while appreciating the commitment of the House of Representatives to support the military in its efforts to secure Nigeria’s crude oil, assured that the military, on its part, will double its efforts.

“I give you the assurances of the men and officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces under my watch of our commitments to collaborate and work with this committee for the good of our great country and indeed our people,” he said.

The defence chief, however, lamented the delayed prosecution process of those arrested for oil thefts, which he said discourages security personnel in their determination to fight criminals in the oil-producing areas.