Illegal Oil Bunkering: Matters Arising

Illegal oil bunkering has been an economic problem in Nigeria since the 80s and government over the years has also been putting measures in place to check it.

It is on record that the President Ibrahim Babangida administration instituted a task force to tackle the menace, especially in the Niger Delta region.

Unfortunately, the problem of oil theft has not abated, observers in the oil industry say, and President Goodluck Jonathan in particular, says it has assumed an alarming proportion.

“It is only in Nigeria that people go to all length to steal crude oil and its by-products through breaking pipelines and other associated means of oil bunkering.

“And most times, these illegal activities lead to huge economic waste, environmental degradation and loss of lives within minutes.

“This administration is out to stop this and we are going to take decisive steps to make this evil which is becoming a habit, a thing of the past,’’ Jonathan says.

The president urges security agencies to collaborate to tackle the menace, especially in the Niger Delta area.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has been authorised to carry arms and assigned greater roles, including protection of pipelines across the country.

The Nigerian Army has also directed its formations in the Niger Delta area to collaborate with other security agencies to check unauthorised bunkering.

During his maiden visit to the Onitsha Cantonment, Maj.-Gen. Ashimiyu Olaniyi, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division, Enugu, told the soldiers of government’s determination to stamp out oil bunkering.

Recently, it is observed that successes have been recorded in the fight against the illicit trade on River Niger as a result of the collaboration among the security agencies.

In December 2012, a joint operation of the army and State Security Service (SSS), destroyed seven illegal local refineries located on the creek of the river, few kilometres from the Niger Bridge in Onitsha.

The illegal refineries were discovered by operatives of the SSS who invited soldiers from the 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha.

Lt.-Col. Idongesit Akpan, who led the team, said the army stormed  the communities and destryed the refineries and their products.

“As part of our operational ways, the only thing to do is to destroy the illegally refined oil, unrefined crude oil, boat, tanks and other items used for the illegal activities.

“My officers and men have taken control of the area to make sure that the hoodlums do not return to the communities or the water again.

“It appears that the hoodlums received information that soldiers were coming, so they ran away,’’ Akpan said.

On March 12, 2013 soldiers from the 14 Field Engineer Regiment, Onitsha intercepted two boats loaded with 100,000 litres of gasoline valued at N16 million.

“One of the boats started sinking in the middle of the river and spilling some of its content; but they quickly arrested the situation, cleaned up the area to avoid environmental pollution.

“Apart from the cost of the products on the street, it has other economic cost as nobody knows how many times the bunkerers must have been involved in this illegal activities in a week, a month or annually,’’ Lt.-Col. Bayode Adetoro, the Commanding Officer of the regiment, says.

Brig.-Gen. Koko Essien representing the GOC 82 Division handed over the gasoline to the NSCDC for further investigation and prosecution of those behind the economic sabotage.

Col. Hamza Gambo, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, who spoke before the hand-over, urged communities to assist security agencies to tackle bunkering.

Gambo said that the perpetrators of this “monumental economic sabotage” are visible in many of the communities, where they display their ill-gotten wealth.

“All of us as patriotic Nigerians, must condemn it. All of us have collective responsibility towards checking bunkering and pipeline vandalism.

“We owe it as a duty to the country, to ourselves and the future of our children to report the activities of these elements to security agencies,’’ he said.

Gambo may have spoken well but security, they say, is everybody’s business. people should be more involved and be encouraged to report illegal activities to security agencies to protect out collective commonwealth, analysts advise.

Nwanosike writes for the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Stanley Nwanosike