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Checking Crude Oil Theft

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The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (simply known as the Kimberley Process or KP) is the outcome of a vigorous campaign launched in 1998 by an international Non-Governmental Organisation, Global Witness, to expose the role of rough diamonds in funding conflicts, especially in Africa.

Following several violations of the sanctions imposed under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1173 against Jonas Savimbi’s National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), Global Witness, in concert with a few other powerful NGOs, was able to pressure diamond-producing countries in the Southern African region into holding a conference in Kimberley, South Africa, in May 2000 to discuss the issue of conflict diamonds.

Coming at the time it did, the deliberations may have also factored in the role of such precious stones in fuelling the fratricidal wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone during which many innocent citizens lost their lives and several others were maimed and abused, all on account of who controlled the huge diamond resources of the two West African neighbours.

After about three years of heated debates and negotiations, the Kimberley convention drafted an international diamond certification scheme which was endorsed and launched as the Kimberley Process by the United Nations in January 2003.

The scheme simply requires a certification of the origin of rough diamonds by participating governments as a way of preventing conflict diamonds from entering the international supply chain. Countries that produce, trade or process uncut diamonds are encouraged to join. They are expected to enact their own laws on how best to implement the scheme while also ensuring that they trade such merchandise with fellow members only.

Although the process has not brought about a complete halt to transactions in conflict diamonds, certainly not with Cote d’Ivoire, Zimbabwe and Venezuela showing little commitment, it has, nevertheless, dealt a significant blow to the flow of such bloody merchandise from conflict zones into the international diamond market. What’s more, it has also helped some of the countries that were, hitherto, hit by diamond-fuelled conflicts to earn more revenue from their official exports of the precious stone.

Nigeria may not be a member of the Kimberley scheme. She is not even a major producer, trader or processor of rough diamonds. Nor is she at war with any rebel group known to be benefitting from such illicit trade. But the country seems to be at war with a different kind of rebels. Crude oil thieves, that is. And in spite of whatever her fighting strategies, she surely needs the type of export-import certification process that Kimberley proposes.

According to Mutiu Sunmonu, managing director of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), Nigeria loses $5 billion (about N800 billion) annually to illegal oil bunkering in the coastal region of the country.

Speaking at a recent public hearing on oil bunkering organised by the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) and the Navy, the oil-company chief advised government to form alliances in order to fight the menace which has now gone international.

The United States has also lent its voice in condemning the extent of crude oil theft and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta.

Speaking during the just-concluded US-Nigeria Bi-National Conference in Port Harcourt, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ms. Cynthia Akuetteh, attributed the rising thievery to low levels of employment and educational opportunities.

The American official was probably referring to the aspect of this robbery that is carried out by a few jobless and highly agitated Niger Delta youths. But it is already common knowledge that there exist some powerful and well-connected syndicates comprising foreign oil firms, top government officials, security operatives and shipping agents which connive with international oil buyers to defraud the nation, often using forged documents. For instance, the Joint Military Task Force (Operation Pulo Shield) raised to protect oil facilities (rather than people) in the region, has recorded several successes at arresting crude oil thieves and local refiners, even as some of its men have also been fingered as being collaborators.

Analysts have recommended that government address the wanton corruption in the petroleum sector through establishing a tougher regulatory framework. And, in addition, there have also been suggestions for the approval of a 10 per cent stake to oil communities, including the checking of pipeline vandalism and illegal refineries through community policing.

Late President Umaru Yar’Adua once likened illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta to the trade in blood diamonds during the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone. He was reported to have called for international assistance to help Nigeria stop the trade in what he termed ‘blood oil’.

Indeed, Nigeria needs a coordinated international assistance to tackle this menace, but she has to initiate the move. OPEC is a ready-made platform. And with a clearer US position on the matter, drawing from the Kimberley experience will not be a bad idea, after all.

 

Ibelema Jumbo

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

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National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

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In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
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