By Austin Oyibode
In a stirring address at the National Assembly on Thursday, Senator Ned Nwoko described Nigeria’s rampant crude oil theft crisis as a national emergency that must be brought to an end.
Speaking during a public hearing of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, which he chairs, Senator Nwoko underscored the devastating economic and environmental toll of the illicit trade and pledged sweeping reforms to curb its spread.
“When I moved the motion that led to the formation of this committee, I knew it wasn’t just about stolen barrels—it’s about stolen futures,” said Nwoko. “Nigeria is bleeding resources daily, and our people are paying the price.”
The public hearing, held in Abuja, brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from government ministries, security agencies, oil regulatory bodies, host communities, and industry experts. The session marked a critical phase in the Senate’s push to uncover the scale and roots of oil theft and propose actionable solutions.
Senator Nwoko painted a grim picture of the crisis: billions of dollars in annual losses, widespread pipeline vandalism, illegal bunkering, and weak surveillance systems.
“The scale of oil theft in Nigeria is not only shameful, it is dangerous. It cripples our economy, devalues our currency, destroys the environment, and deepens poverty in communities that should be thriving from the wealth beneath their feet,” he said.
He noted that while technical and forensic investigations are underway to trace stolen crude oil from source to illicit sale, including tracking proceeds through international banking networks, the public hearing aimed to promote transparency and accountability.
“This committee is not here to trade blames or make excuses,” Nwoko said. “We are here to dismantle a criminal economy, restore sanity to the oil and gas sector, and protect what belongs to the Nigerian people.”
Among the committee’s priorities, according to Nwoko, are reforms to strengthen institutions, enforce stricter penalties, and ensure that host communities are no longer marginalised in the distribution of oil wealth.
As Nigeria continues to battle economic instability and a depreciating currency, the loss of revenue from crude oil, the country’s primary export, remains a major concern. Nwoko stressed that addressing oil theft is key to reversing the nation’s fortunes.
“We are listening. We are acting. And we will not stop until this tide is turned,” he vowed.
While delivering the opening address, President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, said the Nigerian Senate is considering the enforcement of stiffer penalties against oil theft.
Represented by Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), Akpabio said the 10th National Assembly will do all within its powers to safeguard the Nigerian economy.
He said, “We are prepared to strengthen laws, enhance oversight functions and ensure that agencies responsible for protecting our oil assets are held accountable.”
According to him, the Senate is considering stiffer penalties for oil theft, with terrorism charges for major offenders and compulsory digital metering and real-time monitoring of oil production and exports.
Other measures, he listed, include greater transparency in crude oil lifting and revenue reporting; enhanced collaboration between the military, police, anti-graft agencies, and international partners to track and intercept stolen crude.
He noted that the fight against oil theft is not solely the responsibility of the government, just as he called on oil companies to invest in modern surveillance technologies and secure pipelines.
The hearing is expected to inform the committee’s final report and recommendations to the Senate in the coming weeks.
