BY GABRIEL OKECHUKWU, FRCN PORT HARCOURT
The personnel of Nigerian Armed Forces have been enjoined to redouble efforts towards total eradication of oil theft in the country.
The Minister of State for petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Silva who gave the charge in conjunction with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabo while addressing the personnel at Nigerian Navy Ship NNS Pathfinder and Airforce Base Port Harcourt, however acknowledged improvement in daily crude oil production in the country.
The visit to the military formations is coming on the heels of the efforts by the present administration to confront oil theft and oil loss in the country.
The renewed resolve which started last year was instrumental in the discovery of illegal channels the nation’s crude oil has been stolen in the past, which made it difficult for the nation to meet up it’s OPEC alotted barrel per day.
Addressing the men of the Armed Forces, Minister of State for petroleum Resources, Mr. Temipre Silver, told them that the President wants them to ensure total eradication of crude oil theft.
Mr. Silver who commended the military for the improvement in the fight against oil theft in the nation revealed that the International Community has acknowledged the fact.
Similarly, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabo who expressed optimism of the ability of the military to stop crude oil theft, maintained that many of the perpetrators of oil theft have been arrested.
While the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo told News men that crew members of MT HEROIC IDUM, arrested in Equatorial Guinea for engaging in illegal oil activity are facing trial.
On his part, the Group Managing Director Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited Mr. Mele Kyari appreciated the fight against oil theft by the military .
Mr. Kyari however gave assurance that efforts are being made to end the lingering fuel scarcity in the country.
Present at the occasion were personnel from Operation Delta Safe, top military personnel and the service Chiefs.
