Editorial

Oil Theft: Beyond FG’s Lamentation

Published

3 years ago

April 11, 2022

At an on-the-spot assessment of some pipelines damaged by vandals encompassed in illegal refining
at Ibaa community in Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, said the Federal Government would no longer condone any form of criminality in the nation’s oil and gas facilities and installations.
Aside from causing considerable losses for the country, according to him, the criminals entangled in pipeline vandalism were also destroying the livelihoods of locals and the environment. To resolve the issue, he said: “The community must be involved; the security arm must be involved and the third arm, which is the operating public, must be involved. I want to let everybody know that these criminals have their days numbered because the country has lost so much from their activities.”
Crude oil theft is not new in Nigeria. Indeed, the first report of heist of the commodity dates back to the 80s, when the military was still firmly in charge of administering the country. Since then, deliberations surrounding the phenomenon have gained national elevation. However, what is unusual now is the sheer volume of the product lost to non-state actors and the manner the situation has disrupted the nation’s economy.
Major industry players lately raised alarm about the high rate of oil theft in the sector, preventing Nigeria from meeting its approved production quota by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Nigeria’s billionaire businessman, Tony Elumelu, had stated that the reason the country could not meet its oil production ratio was not because of low investment but theft. The nation’s oil production allotment as approved by OPEC is pegged at 1.8 million barrels per day, but in the last few years, the country has struggled between 1.3 and 1.4 million barrels.
A 2019 report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) stated that Nigeria lost about $42 billion to crude theft, including domestic and refined petroleum products losses from 2009 to 2018. The report gave the breakdown of the losses to entail about $38.5 billion on crude theft, $1.6 billion on domestic crude, and another $1.8 billion on refined petroleum products. NEITI blamed the forfeitures on the government for neglecting oil fingerprinting technology; the absence of broad metering infrastructure of all oil facilities, and other creative strategies to combat the peril.
It is disconcerting that high-level cases of oil larceny have become a danger to the country’s corporate and economic corporality, with the industry now contemplating transporting crude oil from fields to export terminals by trucks. The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, had disclosed that many of the crude oil losings came from Bonny Terminal Network, Forcados Terminal Network and Brass Terminal Network.
Oil theft in the Niger Delta is a national commination. It is one of the most pestilent threats to our nation because it puts so much money in the hands of unregulated non-tax payers. The country is not snug. Apart from revenue loss, this impends over our collective security. The thieves could redistribute the resources to acquire byzantine armouries and face off with the state security agents to achieve their villainous aims.
The government and oil firms should ally to resolve the issue, especially on the agreed volume of oil lost to vandals, since the knots strike at the federation’s revenue. All the stakeholders should embody their activities and thoughts on the question. This measure is peremptory as the situation seems to be getting worse, despite all efforts to rein it in. The imminence must end to enable the country to profit from the surging price of oil and protect the environment from oil spills.
Security agents should open out a unique strategy and a new drive by hounding not only the criminals, but also their chaperones. The scale of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism seen now is beyond explication. While we appreciate the military for its efforts to end the infraction, we think that the service should collaborate with host communities and oil companies and deploy the right technology to contain the hazard.
Sadly, this felony thrives because of the chicanery of security officials, the communities and political leaders with criminal elements working on their behalf. The government needs to wake up. Currently, most public projects are funded with borrowed funds, enkindling fears that the country might be heading for another debt trap. The Debt Management Office (DMO) says Nigeria is saddled with a debt stock of N38 trillion as of September 2021, up by N5 trillion from the N33 trillion of December 2020.
Nigeria’s security architecture needs a comprehensive overhaul. Buhari should withdraw the current crop of security agents in the Niger Delta because they have failed. The new set should be given univocal mandates, while the perpetrators of these crimes must face stiff penalties. This requires strong political will for the government. Security personnel, community and political leaders involved in the sleaze must be named, shamed, and prosecuted.
The leakage has endured for too long and should be halted. At the height of offensives on oil facilities by Niger Delta militants, OPEC estimated production losses in Nigeria at almost 800,000 bpd facilitated by international syndicates working with local cartels, militants, security personnel and officials. A government-appointed committee declared that the country still lost $1.35 billion to oil theft in the first six months of 2019.
It is oddly foreboding that Nigeria is paying scrimpy attention to a sharp increase in oil theft. A ubiquitous activity in the Niger Delta, oil pilfering costs the Nigerian economy billions of dollars in revenue annually. Feeling the pinch more than ever, the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, had last year, justifiably laid the issue on the table again for national discourse. The governor’s obtrusive points should quickly persuade the Buhari’s administration to act firmly.

Editorial

No To Political Office Holders’ Salary Hike

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2025

Uchechukwu Okwum

Nigeria’s Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has unveiled a gratuitous proposal to increase the salaries of political and public office holders in the country. This plan seeks to fatten the pay packets of the president, vice-president, governors, deputy governors, and members of the National and State Assemblies. At a time when the nation is struggling to steady its economy, the suggestion that political leaders should be rewarded with more money is not only misplaced but insulting to the sensibilities of the ordinary Nigerian.

What makes the proposal even more opprobrious is the dire economic condition under which citizens currently live. The cost of living crisis has worsened, inflation has eroded the purchasing power of workers, and the naira continues to tumble against foreign currencies. The majority of Nigerians are living hand to mouth, with many unable to afford basic foodstuffs, medical care, and education. Against this backdrop, political office holders, who already enjoy obscene allowances, perks, and privileges, should not even contemplate a salary increase.

It is, therefore, not surprising that the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has stepped in to challenge this development. SERAP has filed a lawsuit against the RMAFC to halt the implementation of this salary increment. This resolute move represents a voice of reason and accountability at a time when public anger against political insensitivity is palpable. The group is rightly insisting that the law must serve as a bulwark against impunity.

According to a statement issued by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the commission has been dragged before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Although a hearing date remains unconfirmed, the momentous step of seeking judicial redress reflects a determination to hold those in power accountable. SERAP has once again positioned itself as a guardian of public interest by challenging an elite-centric policy.

The case, registered as suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1834/2025, specifically asks the court to determine “whether RMAFC’s proposed salary hike for the president, vice-president, governors and their deputies, and lawmakers in Nigeria is not unlawful, unconstitutional and inconsistent with the rule of law.” This formidable question goes to the very heart of democratic governance: can those entrusted with public resources decide their own pay rises without violating the constitution and moral order?

In its pleadings, SERAP argues that the proposed hike runs foul of both the 1999 Nigerian Constitution and the RMAFC Act. By seeking a judicial declaration that such a move is unlawful, unconstitutional, and inconsistent with the rule of law, the group has placed a spotlight on the tension between self-serving leadership and constitutionalism. To trivialise such an issue would be harum-scarum, for the constitution remains the supreme authority guiding governance.

We wholeheartedly commend SERAP for standing firm, while we roundly condemn RMAFC’s selfish proposal. Political office should never be an avenue for financial aggrandisement. Since our leaders often pontificate sacrifice to citizens, urging them to tighten their belts in the face of economic turbulence, the same leaders must embody sacrifice themselves. Anything short of this amounts to double standards and betrayal of trust.

The Nigerian economy is not buoyant enough to shoulder the additional cost of a salary increase for political leaders. Already, lawmakers and executives enjoy allowances that are grossly disproportionate to the national average income. These earnings are sufficient not only for their needs but also their unchecked greed. To even consider further increments under present circumstances is egregious, a slap in the face of ordinary workers whose minimum wage remains grossly insufficient.

Resources earmarked for such frivolities should instead be channelled towards alleviating the suffering of citizens and improving the nation’s productive capacity. According to United Nations statistics, about 62.9 per cent of Nigerians were living in multidimensional poverty in 2021, compared to 53.7 per cent in 2017. Similarly, nearly 30.9 per cent of the population lives below the international poverty line of US$2.15 per day. These figures paint a stark picture: Nigeria is a poor country by all measurable standards, and any extra naira diverted to elite pockets deepens this misery.

Besides, the timing of this proposal could not be more inappropriate. At a period when unemployment is soaring, inflation is crippling households, and insecurity continues to devastate communities, the RMAFC has chosen to pursue elite enrichment. It is widely known that Nigeria’s economy is in a parlous state, and public resources should be conserved and wisely invested. Political leaders must show prudence, not profligacy.

Another critical dimension is the national debt profile. According to the Debt Management Office, Nigeria’s total public debt as of March 2025 stood at a staggering N149.39 trillion. External debt obligations also remain heavy, with about US$43 billion outstanding by September 2024. In such a climate of debt-servicing and borrowing to fund budgets, it is irresponsible for political leaders to even table the idea of inflating their salaries further. Debt repayment, not self-reward, should occupy their minds.

This ignoble proposal is insensitive, unnecessary, and profoundly reckless. It should be discarded without further delay. Public office is a trust, not an entitlement to wealth accumulation. Nigerians deserve leaders who will share in their suffering, lead by example, and prioritise the common good over self-indulgence. Anything less represents betrayal of the social contract and undermines the fragile democracy we are striving to build.

Editorial

No To Political Office Holders’ Salary Hike

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2025

The Tide

Editorial

Rivers’ Retirees: Matters Arising

Published

2 weeks ago

September 8, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government deserves commendation for the manner in which it conducted the last biometric exercise for pensioners in the state. For the first time in many years, the verification process was not only efficient but also humane, a development that has brought relief to a category of citizens that often bears the brunt of neglect.

Unlike previous verification exercises that left pensioners exhausted and unattended, the latest exercise set a refreshing precedent. Retirees were given proper and sumptuous meals, and in addition, the government paid the sum of N10,000 into their accounts to cushion their transportation costs. Such gestures go a long way in demonstrating that those who had laboured for the state are not forgotten in their twilight years.

The measure was particularly necessary given that some pensioners had to travel long distances to reach their verification centres. For elderly men and women, such journeys come with physical and financial strain. By recognising these realities and easing the burden, the government has shown that pensioners deserve dignity, not disdain.

Beyond this laudable act of consideration, the authorities must reflect on the very structure of pension verification. The era of compelling retirees to be physically present for routine verification should be reconsidered. With digital tools and innovation, the government can adopt systems that capture and confirm data without the stress of physical assembly. This is crucial for pensioners residing in other states or even abroad.

While we acknowledge the importance of verification in cleaning up pension records, we cannot ignore the darker side of the matter. It is regrettable that some allowances continue to be paid to deceased pensioners, with relatives fraudulently collecting the funds. The latest biometrics, thankfully, exposed some of these sharp practices. The exercise, therefore, is not only about order but also about justice.

We urge families of deceased pensioners to be patriotic enough to inform the government of the deaths of their loved ones. It is deeply shameful that in some instances, individuals attempted to impersonate late pensioners during the biometrics. Such behaviour undermines the spirit of honesty and deprives genuine retirees of their due entitlements.

The exercise also revealed another important area of concern: the health of pensioners. It is reassuring to learn that the state government has reportedly promised to take over the medical treatment of some retirees who arrived for the biometrics in critical condition. This is a step in the right direction. Elderly citizens, after years of service, should have access to special health care facilities in the state. Setting aside hospitals or designated centres for the aged is not just desirable but necessary.

While pension payments in Rivers State have remained consistent, attention must now be directed towards gratuities. Senior citizens deserve to receive their retirement benefits without the bureaucratic hitches that have often marred the process. After years of loyal service, nothing is more demoralising than to see retirees languish for want of their gratuities. Every worker, as Scripture reminds us, is worthy of his wage.

Retirement, in any civilised society, should not be reduced to a sentence of suffering. In dealing with pensioners, government must consistently wear a human face. The humane manner displayed during this verification exercise should not be a one-off. It must become the norm in all dealings with retirees. Measures must continually be put in place to ensure that they do not feel abandoned by the state they served.

One welcome innovation has already been introduced. The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has altered the method of gratuity payment. Pensioners now receive their monies directly into their bank accounts, eliminating the cheque-based system that for years served as fertile ground for corruption. This reform is both pragmatic and forward-looking. Similarly, the implementation of the N32,000 pension harmonisation is also commendable.

Direct payments gratuities ensure transparency and drastically reduce the possibility of diversion of funds. More importantly, they restore confidence in the system and assure pensioners that their entitlements will reach them without interference. In this way, the government has not only safeguarded the process but also upheld the principle of accountability.

Seamless gratuity payment has a ripple effect on the workforce as a whole. When workers are confident that retirement will not plunge them into hardship, the temptation to falsify age in order to remain in service is eliminated. Such reforms, therefore, enhance efficiency, honesty, and productivity in the public service.

In sum, the Rivers State Government has struck a refreshing chord in its handling of pension verification. It has shown empathy, innovation, and accountability. However, the momentum must be sustained, and the focus must shift towards modernising verification methods and prioritising retirees’ welfare in health, gratuity, and dignity.

When retirees are treated with compassion and fairness, the message to those still in service is clear: faithful service to the state will not go unrewarded. The humane verification exercise, though a single event, offers a hopeful glimpse of what governance can look like when people, especially the elderly, are placed at the heart of policy.