Kyari Seeks Judiciary Support to Combat Oil Theft, Pipeline Vandalism

By Adedapo Adesanya 

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mr Mele Kyari, has called for judicial support in tackling the challenges of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, making it impossible for the country to reap from its crude wealth.

Mr Kyari made the call at the National Judges Capacity Building Workshop on the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021) organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI) and INVESTIN 234 on Thursday in Abuja.

In a goodwill message he delivered at the workshop, the GCEO of the state oil firm stated that the gains of the PIA have been severely undermined by crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, and urged the judiciary to consider the creation of a special court to try offences related to crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism or granting accelerated hearings to such cases.

According to him, the role of the judiciary was critical to the success of the efforts of the various security arrangements put in place by the NNPC, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders in the industry.

“In particular, is the recommendation that a special court be created to try those offences as they hinge on our survival as a country, and/or for such trials to be conducted under an accelerated hearing process by the issuance of Practice Directions to that effect, with concomitant sanctions to deter would-be offenders,” Mr Kyari stated.

He called on the judiciary to accelerate the hearing of criminal cases in their courts, through the timely determination of the criminal charges and imposing adequate punishments and sanctions on culprits to serve as deterrence to others.

He said NNPC remains committed to collaborating with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the PIA, adding that “together, we can ensure that the benefits of our natural resources are maximized for the economic and social development of our country”.

This consolidates efforts by the NNPC helmsman to salvage one of the situations that are making the country record low levels of crude production. Others include underinvestment and a spate of divestment.

In March, Mr Kyari asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to help tackle the menace of crude oil theft in the country as the anti-graft agency expands its operations into other economic sectors.

“I believe, personally, that the very purpose of your commission is to curtail economic crimes, and there is no bigger economic crime of this scale anywhere else than what is happening in this area,” he said at the meeting with the EFCC Chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede.