Obaseki Decries Oil Theft In Niger Delta, As Nigeria Loses $1.35bn

• Obaseki Decries Oil Theft In Niger Delta, As Nigeria Loses $1.35bn

The nation lost about 22 million barrels of crude in the first six months (January – June) of 2019, an estimate of $1.35 billion, according to the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

The Governor who decried the continuous cases of oil theft in the Niger Delta, made the disclosure when he received a delegation of the National Executive Committee of the Pan Niger-Delta Forum.

Expressing his worry, he wondered how so much could be stolen despite the high presence of security personnel in the Niger Delta region.

“What is really worrisome for me, having chaired the NEC committee on stolen crude oil, is the extent of militarisation in our region. About 22 million barrels of crude oil cannot be accounted for in the first half of this year with an estimated cost of almost $1.35bn.”

According to him, the huge amount of money some people reportedly spent to develop the region in the last decade, could not be seen.

“There is a need to use the region’s assets for economic growth to prevent people of the Niger Delta from being shortchanged and its resources used as slush funds,” the Governor said.