…Calls For Global Consensus
Daud Olatunji
In a recent revelation, Senator Seriake Dickson, a pm Senator representing Bayelsa West in the National Assembly, has shed light on the pervasive issue of oil theft plaguing the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
During an appearance on the socio-political programme “Inside Sources with Laolu Akande” on Channels Television, Senator Dickson boldly accused influential figures from Lagos and Abuja of orchestrating the rampant theft of oil in the Niger Delta.
Drawing from his extensive experience as a two-term governor of Bayelsa State and his tenure in the National Assembly since 2020, Dickson said he condemned the systemic corruption that has allowed oil theft to thrive.
He emphasized the lack of accountability in Nigeria’s oil industry, criticizing the absence of proper metering and recording mechanisms to track oil production and sales accurately.
According to Dickson, this lack of transparency has not only enabled illicit activities but has also contributed to the socio-economic decay of the Niger Delta communities.
Highlighting the broader implications of oil theft, Dickson underscored its role in fueling criminal activities such as arms smuggling, drug trafficking, and cultism.
He pointed out the alarming trend of young men being recruited into criminal networks, driven by the allure of illegal wealth and power.
Dickson implicated various elements of the official system, including security agencies and oil companies, in perpetuating this criminal enterprise.
Echoing the call for international intervention, Dickson likened the situation to the global consensus against blood diamonds, urging the international community to reject stolen crude oil from Nigeria.
He stressed the need for strong political will at all levels of leadership to combat oil theft effectively, emphasizing that it has become a malignant cancer eroding the nation’s financial and environmental resources.
Citing staggering statistics, Dickson revealed the staggering scale of oil theft in Nigeria, with approximately 108,000 barrels of crude stolen daily, according to reports.
He referenced the Nigerian National Petroleum Company’s discovery of an illegal oil connection operating for nine years, resulting in the loss of about 600,000 barrels per day.
These losses, he said, estimated by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) at 2.3 million barrels monthly, translate to over $1 billion every three months—a staggering blow to Nigeria’s economy.
Despite ongoing efforts by security agencies to arrest perpetrators and destroy vessels involved in oil theft, Dickson emphasized that lasting solutions require addressing official complicity, ensuring transparency, and fostering accountability within the oil sector.
He remained hopeful that with concerted action, the menace of oil theft could be eradicated, restoring prosperity and stability to the Niger Delta region and Nigeria as a whole.
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