Oil theft: House of reps widens probe, closes in on culprits

The ad hoc committee of the house of representatives investigating crude oil theft and loss of revenue from oil and gas companies has continued its probe.

Chaired by Kabiru Alhassan Usman Rurum, a lawmaker from Kano state, the committee has vowed to continue unearthing stunning revelations of massive oil theft.

]Many of the marginal field operators are aiding oil theft in order to compliment shortfalls in their production.

The committee is said to be seriously beaming its searchlight on these operators.

The committee has held extensive interrogation and interaction with security agencies and will be engaging intensely the operators of the marginal fields, 14 production sharing contract operators and 57 joint venture operators in the days ahead.

Some complicit industry operators have reportedly boasted that nothing will come out from the investigation like the previous ones before it.

Findings however, revealed that Rurum committee may shock the nation with its findings and recommendations.

Rurum, in his address during the first day of the committee’s public hearing on September 7, 2023, informed Nigerians, that the committee was committed to do a thorough job whose report if implemented will put to an end the fiasco of oil theft in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the committee’s investigation has so far uncovered a seeming massive corruption and collusion of regulatory agencies at the export loading terminals.

Investigations have shown that many arrested ocean vessels involved in massive underhand dealings had the tacit approval.

Circumstances surrounding the release of arrested and complicit vessels by prosecuting agencies are also being looked into by the committee.

The chairman has said the committee will not jump into conclusion on any allegation.

He assured that the legislative procedure of the hearing meetings presents an opportunity to everyone to make his/her submission to the committee.