Oil thieves have been compared to terrorists by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who has called on the federal government to punish them as insurgents.
Despite the money spent each year on protecting oil assets, Mr. Gbajabiamila said in his opening remarks at the start of plenary on Tuesday at the green chamber that the arrangements are ineffective.
In order to stop illegal bunkering, illicit refining, and oil theft in Niger-Delta villages, the government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited decided to hire General Tompolo.
Reactions to the multi-billion dollar monitoring contract have been spreading across the nation.
In his remarks, Mr. Gbajabiamila stated that the government should examine its current approach to fighting oil theft.
The government should treat oil thieves like terrorists, he suggested.
“There are safeguards in place to stop these kinds of criminal actors, and the government invests a sizable sum of money each year to safeguard the nation’s oil and gas resources. Evidently, the current arrangements are inadequate. Therefore, it is necessary to review them and make the required adjustments.
“It is also crucial that those responsible for these crimes against the state are found, brought to justice, and punished harshly as the law permits. Those who want to destroy our nation economically have declared war on the Nigerian people.
They are identical to the terrorists and insurgents that we are fighting across numerous theaters. The response of the government must be adequate to persuade them of their wrong and discourage others who might be tempted to participate in their treason.
He spoke.
In addition, Mr. Gbajabiamila warned his colleagues not to neglect their duties as MPs as the election season approaches.
Additionally, he praised the National Narcotics Law Enforcement Agency for the recent drug bust in Lagos’ Ikorodu neighborhood.
The speaker stressed that Nigerians must take all necessary measures to stop drugs from taking over the nation.
