Energy
Operatives Apprehend Crude Oil Thieves In Anambra
The Nigerian Navy (NN) has handed over six crude oil thieves suspects apprehended by officers in the Onitsha Outpost to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Anambra State Command (NSCDC), Anambra State.
While receiving the suspects on Tuesday in Awka, Commandant, Anambra State, NSCDC, Edwin Osuala, reiterated the resolve of security operatives to end the menace of crude oil theft, illegal dealings on petroleum products and oil pipeline vandalism.
Details of these were contained in a press statement issued by the state Public Relations Officer, NSCDC, Okadigbo Edwin, on Tuesday.
Biztellers reports that the NSCDC has vowed to stop at nothing to rid the state of vandals, while they promised to thoroughly investigate the suspects for prosecution in court.
The statement read, “On the 03/11/2023, at about 06:00hrs, one Ugwu Donatus ‘m’ aged 57yrs, Chukwudi Eke ‘m’ aged 52yrs and one Nwabueze Daniel ‘m’ aged 30yrs respectively, were arrested along Atani Road, Odekpe Community in Ogbaru LGA of Anambra State while conveying 70 sack bags of petroleum products, estimated about 3,500 litres of suspected adulterated Automotive Gas Oil in a white Nissan vehicle with registration no: Enugu ENU 391 XX.
“Similarly, on November 7, 2023, at about 13:00hrs, one Chinedu Okafor ‘m’ aged 32yrs, Abu Galaddima ‘m’ aged 42yrs, and Rishamah Abbass ‘m’ aged 29yrs, respectively were arrested within Odekpe Community in Ogbaru LGA with two white J5 Vans with registration nos: Anambra XA 929 ZBL and Anambra AWK 776 YZ and laden with 100 sack bags of products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil estimated to be about 5,000 litres.”
According to Osuala the preliminary investigations carried out suggested that the products loaded at Osssamala Community in Ogbaru LGA were headed to Upper Iweka before their final destination.
He also explained that one Emeka Emeka who is alleged to be the owner of the products is currently at large, while sustained monitoring was in place to arrest him.
He affirmed that the suspects were assisting the command with useful information that will help in arresting their accomplices.
He, however, lauded the Navy for the arrest saying that the synergy between the NSCDC and the Navy had yielded many results in the fight against economic crimes in the country.
He said, “I want to commend the Nigerian Navy for assisting the Corps being the lead agency in the protection of critical national assets and the eradication of illegal dealings on petroleum products. With the successful handover of these suspects and the exhibits to us, we would immediately launch a credible investigation.
“We are assuring the Navy and members of the public that proper investigation would be carried out on the suspects and any other culprits involved with the case for possible prosecution.
“The handing over of the suspects and the exhibits to the NSCDC is a sign that security agencies operating in Anambra State are united in crime fighting. This synergy is what is needed to wage a full-scale war against the perpetrators of the heinous crime.
“I want to advise these economic saboteurs to steer clear of Anambra State because we have activated our operational mechanism in all the nooks and crannies of the state to make this place hot for them to operate. They should either look for legitimate business to engage in or turn a new leaf.”
Meanwhile, he warned all perpetrators of oil theft, illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism, and other criminal activities to relocate outside the state, as there is no hiding place for them in and around the state.
He advised members of the public to be vigilant and provide the Command with credible information to assist in curbing the activities of criminal elements and economic saboteurs.
The Niger Delta Youths are primed to assume national responsibilities in critical areas of the economy by protecting vital oil and gas assets in the region.
The United Niger Delta Congress (UNDC) gave the assurance at a media briefing in Abuja, over the weekend, adding that the youths of Niger Delta were ready to work with the federal government in this regard.
The group maintained that youths in the region have shown that such responsibilities, including the security of pipelines, can be entrusted to them.
Speaking at the news conference, Niger Delta Youth activist, Mallam Julius Obi, said the Niger Delta is safer while the nation’s crude is flowing based on the fact that youths in the region are doing the job.
He said that being a youth should not be a disqualification from strategic national assignments but when matched with preparation and character, a national asset.
“We are calling on the federal government to note that Nigeria is full of young men and women who are prepared, disciplined and ready to carry out national responsibilities.
“We urge the federal government to keep opening the doors of strategic national service to young Nigerians who have earned trust the only way it can be earned, by delivery,” Obi said.
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The group commended President Bola Tinubu for sustaining the security reforms in the oil and gas industry and the the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for coordinating the protection of the nation’s pipelines, and the management of NNPCL for providing the enabling environment.
Joseph Ambakederimo, convener of the South-South Reawakening Group, has questioned the accountability of Nigeria’s crude oil forward sales, demanding clarification on the volume of crude lifted, outstanding balances and the use of upfront payments.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Sunday, Ambakederimo expressed concern over the monitoring of crude oil transactions, questioning who was responsible for tracking deliveries and providing feedback on the arrangements.
“We don’t even know who is monitoring and giving us the feedback of the barrels of crude that have been lifted on forward sales basis,” he said.
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He challenged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to provide details of the transactions, including the quantity of crude already lifted, the outstanding balance and whether the agreed deliveries had been completed.
“Today, can we get this from NNPC? How much have they lifted? What is the balance remaining? Have they been completed?” he asked.
Ambakederimo also questioned how the money collected upfront under the arrangements had been spent, demanding an explanation of its use.
“That money that was collected upfront, what was the use of the money? Can you justify it?” he asked.
He argued that Nigeria should make better use of its natural resources to accelerate infrastructure development and improve living conditions.
Citing land reclamation projects in the United Arab Emirates, Ambakederimo said Nigeria could explore similar opportunities to create additional land for residential and other developments.
He recalled seeing a signpost while travelling from Dubai to Abu Dhabi describing a project to reclaim land from the sea, using the example to highlight the development possibilities he believes Nigeria could explore.
The South-South Reawakening Group convener also argued that Nigeria could reclaim land in suitable areas, provided environmental concerns were properly managed.
He called for the country to translate its natural resource wealth into infrastructure and improved living conditions, stressing the need for greater accountability in crude oil transactions.
Oil output from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) rose to record levels in September, underscoring its resilience even amidst the Middle East crises and liberation from OPEC+ limits.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) issued the data in its monthly report, adding that Abu Dhabi raised total oil production, including condensates, by 400,000 bpd to 5.3 MMbpd.
According to the IEA, the UAE bolstered crude output to more than 4.4 MMbpd, nearing its maximum capacity, which surpasses the previous highs for total oil in August, and crude oil in June.
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The UAE has been one of the most successful among regional producers in restoring flows through the Strait of Hormuz, by drawing on a fleet of tankers to discreetly shuttle cargoes through the chokepoint and then transfer them onto other vessels. In addition, the country’s decision to leave the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as of May has freed it from the group’s output caps, a source of frustration for years.
Its gains contributed to a wider recovery in flows from Gulf producers, which reached more than 75% of pre-war levels in September, led by Saudi Arabia, according to the Paris-based IEA.
Still, it’s unclear how far the regional rebound has withstood a new wave of Iranian attacks on tankers transiting Hormuz, and escalating hostilities carried out by the Houthi rebel faction in Yemen.
The UAE depleted its observable above-ground inventories at a record pace of more than 270,000 bpd in September, drawing them to an all-time low, according to the IEA.
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