Sen. Seriake Dickson (PDP-Bayelsa West) on Friday revealed that the major perpetrators of oil theft in the Niger Delta are influential individuals residing outside the region. The senator made this assertion while visiting the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Oboro-Gbaraun II, Aketepe, Agadagba, in Oporoza, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
Dickson stated that although Ijaw youths are often blamed for oil theft, they lack the necessary skills and knowledge to operate pipelines. “Those big players behind the crude oil theft are not from the region but are based in Lagos, Abuja, and other parts of the world,” he said. He explained that the Ijaw people, who live in the creeks and depend on the waterways and farmlands for their livelihood, are victims of pollution caused by these criminal activities.
“We have no means and no capacity to engage in the high-level operations that result in the daily loss of Nigerian crude oil produced from our place. Those who have the capacity to compromise and infiltrate the national security system and the national petroleum system; those who have the capacity to hire the tankers and shuttle vessels, they are not Ijaws. We do not have the capacity to do that! We do not even have the experience to be involved in that kind of operation,” Dickson emphasized.
The former governor of Bayelsa State highlighted that such sophisticated operations require significant resources, coordination, funding, and international networking. He urged Nigeria to enhance its efforts on the international stage to identify and address the issue of stolen crude oil. “Those who, on a daily basis, under declare what is produced; those who have refused to properly monitor and record what is produced for over 50 or 60 years should take the blame. It is not the Ijaw youth – harmless people without the capacity and without the technical know-how,” he said.
Dickson also praised the traditional ruler for maintaining peace in his kingdom and the entire Niger Delta. Additionally, he visited Dr. Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, the founder of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL). He commended Ekpemupolo for his significant contributions through TSSNL in boosting the nation’s oil revenue and aiding the regeneration of the region’s ecosystem.
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