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Oil Theft, Losses Will Fuel Crisis In Nigeria If Not Checked, Osinbajo, Ndiomu Warn

Published

3 years ago

February 21, 2023

Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo has said that oil theft and losses pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s economy and impact negatively on the revenue of the nation.

According to the Vice President, if left unchecked, these could fuel a public finance crisis that paralyses the government and makes the nation vulnerable.

Osinbajo spoke at the stakeholders conference of the Special Investigative Panel on Oil Theft and Losses in Nigeria on Tuesday at Transcorp Hilton Abuja

“Oil Theft and Losses is a threat to our economy and national security. They pose a serious threat to our oil economy and impact negatively on revenue of the nation and business prospects of investors in the oil and gas sector.” Osinbajo said.

“If left unchecked this could fuel a public finance crisis that could paralyse the government and make our nation vulnerable,” he added, saying that Oil contributes about 80% of government foreign exchange and contributes six percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP.”

He said that large scale theft of crude has undermined the government’s efforts to maximise these resources.

“So the total value of oil lost between 2019 and 2020 is higher than Nigerian foreign reserves at any point in time and almost ten times Nigerian oil savings in the excess crude account. So it’s not an exaggeration at all to say that our oil and gas sector is facing the most serious threat for over half a century…” the VP said.

Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Special Investigative Panel on Oil Theft/Losses in Nigeria, Major General. Barry Ndiomu, rtd, said that the panel said there is no gainsaying the enormous impact the menace of oil theft has had on the nation’s crude oil production with Nigeria’s oil output hitting a 13-year low of 800,000barrels/day.

“The panel visited several sites across the Niger Delta such as the now infamous Yokiri Flow Station Area in Burutu Delta State where the illicit connection on the export line that fed off the TETL was discovered and saw other connecting points used for illegal refining,” he said.

READ ALSO: PAP: Group Gives Ndiomu Nod On Performance, Anti-oil Theft Panel

He said that there have been engagements with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, amongst others. which availed the panel information on the challenges the respective organizations faced in securing the nation’s oil assets and combating oil theft.

“These efforts provided us new knowledge and elicited honest discussions amongst panel members that led to some obvious conclusions. We surmised that the reported theft and loss of crude oil stemmed from the twin issues of complicity and negligence.

“The emergent picture suggests the existence of a sophisticated network of complicity between elements from the host communities, security agencies, and industry players- both government and private institutions alike- as well as international collaborators.”
DAILY POST

Related Topics:Barry Ndiomu Oil theft Yemi Osinbajo

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DSS Issues Warning, Arrests Man For Circulating Fake Recruitment Materials

Published

4 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services (DSS) has disclosed the arrest of one Mr. Eze Ezenwa Benard, who was recently apprehended for circulating fake DSS recruitment past questions and answers on Facebook.

The agency, while warning the public in a statement on Saturday, said the suspect operated through a page known as “Jobs and Education”, where he advertised the fraudulent materials and charged unsuspecting members of the public one thousand naira (N1,000) for access.

“The public is hereby cautioned to disregard any materials, as the DSS does not sell or distribute recruitment questions, answers, or examination guides through private individuals or social media pages. Recruitment into the Service, when necessary, follows specialised procedure in accordance with extant laws and due process,” the statement reads.

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‘Na Only People You Gave Work Love You,’ Singer Speed Darlington Tells Tinubu

Published

4 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Singer Speed Darlington has told President Bola Tinubu that public admiration cannot be bought, warning that only those who received appointments or jobs from the government truly support him.

In a video posted on Saturday, August 23, the singer said, “Everything isn’t about the economy! There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you.”

Darlington, an Igbo man, urged Tinubu to focus on police reform and respect for human rights. “The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate. Please, before you leave office, please speak to your Yoruba brother IGP man,” he added.

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Before You Leave Office, Reform The Police — Speed Darlington Urges Tinubu

Published

4 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Popular controversial singer Speed Darlington has called on President Bola Tinubu to reform the Nigerian Police Force, urging the government to prioritise citizens’ rights alongside economic growth.

In a video posted on Saturday, the entertainer criticised what he described as the police’s systemic human rights violations and oppressive practices.

“Mr President, before you leave office, whether you secure a second term or not, try your best to improve Nigeria. Everything isn’t about the economy!

“There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you,” he said.

The singer, who identifies as Igbo, urged Tinubu to engage with the Inspector-General of Police and implement reforms.

“As an Igbo man, the advice I can give you so people will know your name and remember you for something good is to reform the police. Reform the police.

“The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate,” he added.

Darlington also recounted his personal ordeal with law enforcement, highlighting the system’s abuse of power.

“I was held for two months after the judge had ordered my release. FID held me for two months. According to my lawyer, the Nigerian law gives only 28 days for investigation.

“They held me for two months. What is the extra month for? Because they can. If you give them money, they oppress your enemy. I have experienced it,” he said.