Following indiscriminate hoarding and diversion of petroleum products, the presidential taskforce set up to curtail smuggling of petroleum products has begun operation with a view to ending fuel scarcity.
Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on the Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, the taskforce team lead, Tijjani Kyari Mohammed sought the collaboration of the corps to enable the taskforce extend its reach to all states of the federation.
Mohammed stated that the taskforce which has seven border points in the country may also require the services of the Commandant General’s Intelligence Squad (CGIS), legal support for prosecution of suspects and intelligence sharing among others.
He decried the unrepentant posture of smugglers who are bent on sabotaging government’s effort and assured that with the support of NSCDC and other security agencies, the taskforce will not relent in its effort to curtail all sharps practices until sanity is enthroned in the distribution chain.
Responding, the CG appreciated the taskforce for the visit, stating that he has followed the activities of ‘Operation White’ closely and assured them of further collaboration and partnership.
He explained that the corps is empowered by its Act of 2003 as amended in 2007 to prosecute petroleum-related crimes.
In a statement, Director, Public Relations, NSCDC, DCC Olusola Odumosu, disclosed that NSCDC has confronted petroleum- organised crimes and recorded no fewer than 25 convictions since the beginning of the year with about 100 cases still pending in courts on vandalism.
The CG expressed delight in the ongoing synergy and urged that all hands must be on deck to protect the oil sector which drives the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy from economic saboteurs, oil thieves, illegal bunkerers and vandals.
He called on Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to support the corps with working tools and equipment to enable it diligently pursue its mandate.
Audi explained that smugglers and vandals have become more cruel in their illegal activities to the point of unleashing terror on security operatives, resulting in maiming or even death.
The Commandant General requested for waiver in testing of suspected adulterated petroleum products and explained that the corps pays between N80,000 and N100,000 to NNPC for laboratory test and analysis.
The CG commended government’s resolve to put an end to the menace of oil theft and added that NSCDC was committed to protecting oil facilities and sanitising the sector which is the reason behind the procurement of eight gunboats recently.
He added that hands must be on deck and all stakeholders must work collaboratively to end the menace.
