| Tony Gists The Developer Releases His first Mobile Gaming android Application. Download from Play store https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tony.gists1application | ||||
Agada
revealed that at several interactions with the NNPC, the Navy had
explained the causes of fuel scarcity to the company that there was no
way anyone would steal 100,000 barrels of oil in a day, but the NNPC had
deliberately continued to mislead Nigerians.
The Nigerian Navy has lashed out at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited accusing it of manipulaating crude oil theft figures in the country. According to Punch, the Nigerian Navy said NNPC reels out exaggerated figures to save its face.
This disclosure was made to the Senate Committee on Economic and
Financial Crimes by the Navy Chief of Training and Operations, Rear
Admiral Solomon Agada, during an interactive briefing of the relevant
agencies implementing the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management)
Act, 2022 at the National Assembly. Our correspondent exclusively
observed the proceedings.
Agada revealed that at several interactions with the NNPC, the Navy
had explained the causes of fuel scarcity to the company that there was
no way anyone would steal 100,000 barrels of oil in a day, but the NNPC
had deliberately continued to mislead Nigerians.
He made the disclosure when the Chairman of the committee, Senator
Suleiman Kwari, questioned him on why the country continued to
experience cases of oil theft if the waterways were secured as Agada
posited.
Kwari queried, “The oil theft issue has been a very worrisome
one to every Nigerian and more importantly, it has negatively impacted
our economy. How come the Navy hasn’t been able to solve the issue of
oil theft and if the Navy is claiming that the waterways are secured,
why are there still cases of oil theft?”
Agada explained in his responses, “The challenge is that
because of the criminal activity inshore by the illegal refiners in
tapping into the export lines, those export lines have not been in
operation since early this year.
“The major terminals have not been able to process fuel for
export since around February/March and instead of the NNPC telling the
Federal Government that this product is not brought out to be able to
process as export, they say the oil was stolen.”
He explained that the argument of the Navy had been that the NNPC
should tell people the difference between the oil that they have shut in
and not brought out, and what is being stolen.
He added, “The stolen produce that we have been dealing with
among illegal refineries is nothing compared to what the NNPC is
declaring as being stolen.
“If you’re talking about stealing 100,000 barrels a day, you
need about five-tonne batches 20 times a day from the creek to the high
sea, which is very unrealistic. I told them at the NNPC that if that
were to be the case, even a blind man would observe that something was
happening in Nigeria’s waters and we are there on patrol and not seeing
this.
“The only reasonable explanation why the fuels are not coming
out is because the Shell platform on Bonny Island is not exporting and
the Chevron terminal in Escravos is also not exporting. All these things
are very clear, but because it is easier to say these things are
stolen, then they just come up with that.
“Let’s get someone who can do proper analysis of these figures
and we’ll find out that these claims are just bogus; there is nothing
substantive about them. We have communicated appropriately with the
NNPC; even at our last interface with them, they agreed with us; but
when they come to the public, they say oil theft, hiding the fact from
the public.”
Senator Yusuf Yusuf noted that at an oversight function, the NNPC
said crude pipelines were being tapped from the pressure pipe under sea
and crude oil was usually transferred from there into vessels, and this
had been happening for nine years.
“Is the Navy aware or not of the taping going on under the sea?” Yusuf asked.
Agada responded, “On the tapping of the vessel, I also visited
that location with the Chief of Defence Staff and there is a directive
by the President from the office of the Secretary to the Government of
the Federation to set up a committee on that particular incident.
“We are not indicting the NNPCL; we are just saying that let
matters be presented correctly so that people can make informed
decisions. The Navy has no hand in any stealing of oil in this country. I
have no ship or vessel, nor do I know anyone who has; you can
investigate me.”
The Navy boss further explained that the increase in diesel price
was because of the operation in stopping illegal bunkering on the
waters.
He said, “People who have been doing this illegal business will
confirm to you that since we started this special task force operation
in April, their business has gone sour.
“This is also responsible for the increase in diesel price in
the country. Since we stopped the illegal diesel from coming to the
market, the price has gone up, because once there is high demand and the
supply is low, the price will go up.
“People who ought to import will cut corners and buy the
illegal products, but now that they can’t import and the illegal ones
are not coming, this has reduced the quantity in the country. But
somehow, nobody is coming to share this information with the people.”
He added that the Federal Government had invested in infrastructure
through the Maritime Domain Awareness Infrastructure, which had
assisted the Navy in detecting and arresting illegal refiners and
vessels that were usually handed over to the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission for prosecution.
Agada stated, “And right from Abuja here, we have the capacity
to see the entire Nigeria Exclusive Economic Zone. We have 24 hours
watch on the exclusive economic zone. Any vessel that enters Nigerian
waters that is not permitted to be is immediately arrested because we
see their movement.
“Any vessel in the international waters is expected to have
their automatic identification system on and that shows that you’re
transparently operating; so, any vessel that switches off its
identification system automatically becomes a vessel for the Nigeria
Navy and we will immediately arrest them and thereafter investigate.
“So, as of today, there is no tanker that can enter Nigerian
waters to carry anything without being noticed. All these things that
happened now have sent a very strong signal to the international
communities that Nigeria is now a place where illegal activities can’t
take place anymore.”
Earlier in his speech, the chairman of the committee noted that the
session was an oversight function of the Senate to oversee the agencies
and check on their revenue generation.
Kwari said, “As part of our oversight duties, it has become
imperative to ascertain your organisations’ level of compliance with the
specific provisions of this Act with due respect to the actual laid
down procedures on how you are to handle and dispose of forfeited
assets.
“A cursory look at the submissions so far indicated a wide gap
between the reserved prices and competitive bid offers if the items were
exposed to the general public through licensed auctioneers. This
disposal process is meant to generate revenue for the government and
should be seen as such.”
The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Garba-Deen Mohammad is yet to react. |
Are You On youtube? subscribe to Hot GIST Channel Latest Updates - @Hot Gist
Are You On youtube? subscribe to Gospel World (which is also owned by Tony Gists) youtube Channel Latest Updates - @Gospel world
Are You On youtube? subscribe to Honest Ose Channel Latest Updates - @Honest Ose
Are You On youtube? subscribe to Honest Web Solutions Channel Latest Updates - @Honest Web Solutions
Are You On youtube? subscribe to Xtremely Honest Channel Latest Updates - @Xtremely Honest
Are You On Twitter? Follow Us Now For Latest Updates - @tonygists
Are You On FACEBOOK? Like Our Page For Latest Updates - tonygists
Are You On FACEBOOK? Join Our Group For Latest Updates And Interactions - TonyGists
© 2023 Tonygists | Portions are © 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may be published, broadcast, rewritten, or distributed.
