FG To Launch Comprehensive Programme To Fight Crude Oil Theft

Source: pointblanknews.com

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan said Sunday at The Hague that the

Federal Government has earmarked one billion U.S Dollars for the

implementation of a comprehensive programme to check crude oil theft, the

vandalism of oil and gas infrastructure, and the apprehension and

prosecution of crude oil thieves.
Speaking at separate meetings with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands,

Mr. Mark Rutte and the Chief Executive Officer of Shell International,

Mr. Ben van Beurden, President Jonathan said that a technical committee

has already been set up to look into all aspects of the implementation of

the programme.
This, the President said, will include further action to enhance the

security of pipelines and other oil industry infrastructure, resolve

community-related issues, boost youth empowerment in oil-producing areas

and enhance the commitment of oil companies to the discharge of their

corporate social responsibilities.
President Jonathan said that the fresh onslaught against oil theft

planned by his administration will require the maximum co-operation of

the international community, especially countries like the Netherlands

which are major stakeholders in the global oil industry.

“Oil theft is an aspect of global terrorism, which has become a big

industry on its own. It has become a major threat to the Nigerian economy

and we need to work with all stakeholders to curb it. The thieves must be

traced, apprehended and prosecuted”, the President who is in the

Netherlands for the 2014 global Nuclear Security Summit said.

The Dutch Prime Minister assured the President of the commitment of the

Netherlands to concerted action against crude oil theft and global

terrorism.
Mr. Rutte who remarked that President Jonathan's visit affirmed the

strong ties between Nigeria and the Netherlands, also assured the

President of the willingness of The Netherlands to collaborate more with

Nigeria on environmental and security issues, particularly in the Niger

Delta.
He praised Nigeria's leadership role in promoting regional security in

West Africa, and welcomed the signing of an agreement on immigration

between both countries as well as the strong trade relations between

Nigeria and The Netherlands.
“The President's visit is an open testimony of the strong ties between

Nigeria and Netherlands. Nigeria is Netherlands' main trading partner in

Africa and the Netherlands is the second biggest European investor in

Nigeria,” the Dutch Prime Minister said.