Tambuwal Woos EU To Curb Oil Theft

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal has in Abuja called for the support of the European Union (EU) in fighting oil theft in Nigeria.
Tambuwal made the call at the end of the 25th session of African, Caribbean, Pacific and European Union (ACP-EU) Joint Parliamentary Assembly.
He said the National Assembly on its part was however considering legislation to check oil theft in the country.
At the three-day event, the Speaker said the ugly development of oil theft was having negative effects on the country’s economy.
Speaking on the country’s security situation, he said government had taken some measures which include the declaration of state of emergency in some affected areas to check insecurity.
“We have taken extreme measures to restore normalcy in affected areas in terms of security,” Tambuwal said.
On women, he said the Nigerian parliament had taken steps to ensure that women were given special roles in the scheme of things in the parliament.
“The Nigerian parliament and Nigerians are interested in women issues and we will ensure that women are given the attention they deserve,’’ the Speaker added.
He said 63 per cent of women in the country’s parliament are heading key standing committees.
Tambuwal commended delegates from other countries for accepting to come to Nigeria without minding some negative reports about the security situation in the country.
Our correspondent  reports that the 26th session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in November.
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa Government on Friday pledged to collaborate with the Joint Task Force (JTF) to curb crude oil theft and other related vices in the state.
Our correspondent reports that this was part of the resolution of the state’s weekly security council meeting in Yenagoa.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting, the Chairman of the task force, Maj,-Gen. Bata Debiro, said the measures were initiated to curb the activities of vandals on waterways in the state.
Debiro said that security operatives would require more gunboats and other logistics to step up their efforts in checking criminal activities on waterways in states in the Niger Delta.
The chairman noted that Gov. Seriake Dickson had commended the efforts of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other security agencies in tackling the nation’s security challenges.
Debiro also remarked that Dickson had stressed that the delivery of dividends of democracy would suffer setbacks in the absence of adequate security of lives and property.
He said that the flow line from Nembe to Bonny had been shut down for repairs, stating that the State Government had promised to offer assistance to enable security agents carry out patrols on the waterways.
“We had a meeting with the governor to brainstorm and collaborate with other security agencies and the SPDC representatives on the way forward to curb pipeline vandalism, illegal bunkering and oil theft in the Niger Delta.
“We have looked into where we have challenges, most especially logistics, and we will require more gun boats to be able to conduct aggressive patrols on the waterways and the creeks, especially in Nembe, Brass up to Bonny in Rivers State,” Debiro said.
In a related development, Dickson while receiving the Zonal Commandant, Zone G, of the NSCDC, Asst. Commandant-General Joseph Oragande, underscored the importance of law and order in society.
Dickson said that his administration had enacted appropriate legislations to drive its policy of zero tolerance for crime, criminality and violence soon after assumption of office.
Justifying government’s investment in the security sub-sector, Dickson described Bayelsa as one of the safest states in the country where investors could operate in with peace of mind.
Dickson also received officials of the NSCDC, who were in Bayelsa for a sensitisation workshop on the negative impacts of oil theft
Earlier in his remarks, Oragande commended Dickson for his developmental strides and continued partnership with security agencies in the state.
Responding to the NSCDC’s requests, Dickson assured the visiting commandant of his administration’s preparedness to provide an enabling operating environment for the corps within the limits of available resources.
He directed the Chief of Staff, Government House and his Special Adviser on Security to liaise with the corps to enable government provide the most pressing needs for the agency.