By Milcah Tanimu

In a bid to address the growing issue of crude oil theft in Nigeria, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has sought the support of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). During an interactive session at the NNPC Towers in Abuja, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, appealed to the EFCC’s helmsman, Ola Olukoyede, to assist in tackling this significant economic crime.

In a statement released by NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, on March 12, Kyari emphasized the urgency of addressing crude oil theft, considering its magnitude and the audacity of the perpetrators. He highlighted the challenge as the most substantial and virulent economic crime in Nigeria, warranting the attention of the EFCC.

Kyari expressed the company’s ongoing efforts to eliminate corruption within its system and combat crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism. He pointed out the alarming daily volume of oil stolen and the boldness of those involved, underscoring the need for EFCC intervention.

The statement quoted Kyari as saying, “As we continue to do our best to deepen transparency and stamp out corruption from the system, there is one big challenge that you will need to help us with, Mr. Chairman. That challenge is crude theft.”

Kyari provided insights into NNPC’s initiatives, such as deactivating illegal refineries and disconnecting thousands of illegal pipes in the Niger Delta region. Despite these efforts, he highlighted the persistent challenges and the need for collaborative action.

The NNPC CEO lamented the unique nature of crude oil theft, emphasizing that these illegal connections are visible and require expertise to install. He urged the EFCC to play a pivotal role in curbing this economic crime, stating, “I believe, personally, that the very purpose of your commission is to curtail economic crimes, and there is no bigger economic crime of this scale anywhere else than what is happening in this area.”

Kyari also addressed corruption within NNPC, asserting the company’s commitment to high ethical standards and the implementation of measures to prevent discretionary actions. He clarified that many reported corruption issues were either untrue or recycled from the past.

In response, EFCC’s Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, commended NNPC Ltd.’s dedication to ethics and code of conduct. However, he challenged the management to ensure that these codes are effectively enforced and monitored to enhance deterrence against corruption.