The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has expressed worries over the rising cases of oil theft and illegal bunkering which adversely resulted to revenue loss to the Federal Government.
The NSCDC Commandant General, Dr. Ahmed Audi, called on its officials to avoid compromise in their discharge of duty and ensure all the necessary things are put in place with urgency so as to put an end to the menace of oil theft.
Audi further showed dissatisfaction at the attitude of some of its operatives conniving with vandals and oil thieves, saying any of its officials found culpable would be adequately punished.
This was disclosed in a statement on Saturday by the corps’ Director for Public Relations, Olusola Odumosu where it was noted that the security outfit would not condone any act that could impugn on the integrity of the Corps.
“Worried by the spate of oil theft and illegal bunkering, which has led to huge revenue loss, to the Federal Government, in recent times despite stringent measures put in place to curtail it, the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, convened a strategic meeting at the Corps’ National Headquarters, in Abuja, to end the menace.
“This step became necessary, to reverse the ugly trend and gave marching orders to all concerned officials, of the Corps, to buckle up and ensure that the needful is done to halt oil theft without further delay.
“The mainstay of Nigeria’s economy stated that since the Corps is saddled with the responsibility of protecting petroleum pipelines and other oil installations, across the country, against vandals and oil thieves, it behoves on personnel, to live up to expectation and carry out this function effectively.
“It is a strategic meeting at my instance. We are aware that as far as the nation is concerned, oil is the mainstay of the economy and the massive oil theft and illegal bunkering in the country is alarming.
“It is in this direction that I have summoned all the high-ranking officers of the Corps, to this meeting, for us to sit up and come up with ways of tackling this menace creating problems for us.
“The Commandant General tasked the officers to check their excesses, inappropriate behaviours and warned that his administration will not condone any form of compromise or unethical behaviours, from personnel deployed to prevent oil theft and illegal bunkering.”
