Ibas Calls For Prosecution Of Oil Thieves

….Proposes Digital Surveillance, Enhanced Security Measures

The Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral  Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), has called for the effective prosecution of oil thieves to curb the rampant economic sabotage crippling Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

Ibas, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Hector Igbikiowubo, made the declaration while hosting the Senate Committee on Incessant Crude Oil Theft, led by its Chairman, Senator Ned Nwoko, at the Government House in Port Harcourt, last Friday.

He noted that weak punishment for offenders emboldens criminality, depriving the nation of critical revenue needed for development.

“Your presence here is both significant and timely. Crude oil theft strikes at the heart of Nigeria’s economic survival, undermining President Bola Tinubu’s reforms to boost oil production and fund national infrastructure,” he stated.

He commended the Committee’s mandate to investigate oil theft across producing states and terminals, expressing confidence that their recommendations would strengthen Nigeria’s economic base.

The Administrator highlighted Rivers State’s progress in reducing pipeline vandalism through improved intelligence gathering and inter-agency coordination.

“As a major oil-producing state, we are committed to eliminating threats to production. Our goal is a secure, tech-driven monitoring framework to safeguard assets and boost output,” he said.

To tackle oil theft nationally, Vice Admiral Ibas urged strict prosecution of offenders as a deterrent.

He also recommended other measures including

provision of Tamper-Proof Metering Systems to fix faulty metering which accounts for 40% of oil losses; enhanced Naval & Security Funding to strengthen the Nigerian Navy and maritime agencies, and Global Surveillance Investment to expand monitoring to backwaters and international waters, where large-scale theft occurs.

Ibas reiterated Rivers State’s readiness to partner with federal stakeholders to protect national assets and restore Nigeria’s oil revenue potential.

In his response, Senator Ned Nwoko who led the delegation, affirmed the Committee’s resolve to identify and dismantle theft networks, both onshore and offshore.

“We need Rivers State’s support to end this menace. Big-time thieves operate in international waters, and we must collaborate to secure Nigeria’s resources,” he said.

The Committee, inaugurated three months ago, will submit actionable solutions to the National Assembly to sanitize the oil sector.