Senate Proposes Terrorism Charges for Large-Scale Oil Theft Offenders
Nigerian Government Takes Harder Stance Against Economic Sabotage
The Nigerian Senate is pushing for stricter measures to combat crude oil theft, including potentially classifying major offenders as terrorists with corresponding severe penalties.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced these plans during the opening of a two-day public hearing on the persistent issue of crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region. The hearing was held at the Senate wing of the National Assembly.
Legislative Commitment to Stronger Action
Representing Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau emphasized that the 10th National Assembly would not tolerate continued economic sabotage at such scale.
“We are prepared to strengthen laws, enhance oversight, and ensure that agencies responsible for protecting our oil assets are held accountable,” he declared.
The proposed measures include:
- Terrorism charges for major oil theft offenders
- Implementation of digital metering and real-time monitoring systems
- Increased transparency in oil lifting and revenue reporting
- Stronger inter-agency collaboration with security and anti-corruption bodies
- International cooperation to intercept stolen crude
Direct Warning to Perpetrators
Akpabio issued a stern warning to oil thieves: “To the criminals stealing our crude oil, your time is up. To the agencies tasked with protecting our resources, the nation is watching.”
He urged oil companies to invest in advanced surveillance systems and called on host communities to actively participate in protecting oil assets rather than remaining passive bystanders.
Devastating Economic Impact
Highlighting the crisis, Akpabio noted that oil and gas account for:
- Over 80% of government revenue
- 90% of foreign exchange earnings
Recent reports indicate Nigeria loses between 150,000 and 400,000 barrels of crude oil daily to theft – translating to billions in lost annual revenue.
“This theft is not a victimless crime,” Akpabio stressed, explaining how it undermines economic stability, devalues the Naira, and finances illegal arms and violence.
Call for Comprehensive Solutions
The Senate President demanded answers to critical questions:
- Who are the perpetrators – militants, government insiders, or international collaborators?
- Why have current security systems failed?
- How is stolen crude moving across borders undetected?
He concluded with a call to action: “The recommendations from this session must lead to actionable, measurable, and time-bound solutions. Nigeria’s survival depends on it.”
Credit: Business Day