The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Audi, has learn the Riot Act to commandants in the Niger Delta States to do away with financial saboteurs, vandals, criminals, and oil thieves in the world, at the same time as he ordered round the clock surveillance of all oil amenities.
The order adopted an earlier marching order by President Bola Tinubu that the oil-rich area must be rid of all legal actions inimical to the expansion of the oil sector.
A press release by the spokesman of the NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu, on Friday reads: “Given the Presidential order to rid the nation’s oil sector of economic saboteurs, vandals, criminals, oil thieves, and other nefarious activities inimical to the growth of the sector, the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has read the Riot Act to commandants of the Niger Delta states to ensure full compliance.
“Having summoned the concerned state commandants to the National Headquarters of the Corps in Abuja, the CG gave them marching orders to immediately rejig their anti-vandal units as a measure to arrest oil theft and vandalism of critical national assets.”
The spokesman stated the CG warned that the President had declared zero tolerance for crude oil theft, unlawful oil bunkering, and different frivolous dealings in petroleum merchandise, and due to this fact, anybody discovered aiding and abetting financial saboteurs will face the total wrath of the legislation.
Audi was quoted as saying: “This meeting became necessary to convey President Bola Tinubu’s directive on the absolute need to end all sharp practises in the nation’s oil sector.
“Oil remains the mainstay of our economy; you must therefore rejig your anti-vandal units to end the problem of oil theft in compliance with the Federal Government’s directives.
“We have a duty to protect our oil and gas sectors from vandalism and prevent illegal bunkerers from destroying our oil installations, infrastructure, and earnings.”
The CG additionally charged the state commandants to keep 24-hour surveillance of the oil amenities throughout the nation, work with host communities, and collect sufficient credible data and intelligence to checkmate the menace.
He emphasised the necessity for protected holding of all reveals, safety of exhibit centres, and strict adherence to the code of ethics and commonplace working procedures of the Corps.
The corps helmsman warned that his administration is not going to condone any compromise or unethical conduct from any command or personnel, promising to maintain any state commandant accountable for oil theft, acts of indiscipline, and breakdowns of legislation and order in their domains.
He stated: “As the lead agency in the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure, there is a need to be determined and resilient in the fight against crude oil theft.
“His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is already changing the narrative for good, and we cannot afford to let the President and the entire nation down.”
Audi equally charged the personnel with specializing in synergy and collaboration with different safety businesses in addition to important stakeholders to scale back crude oil theft to its barest minimal.
