OIL THEFT: Don’t Blame N-Delta Ex Militants, Presidency Warns Oil Firms

[Shola Sholaz]

The Presidency defended ex-militants currently on the payroll of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) of involvement in the theft of oil in the Niger Delta.
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The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, claimed over 400,000 barrels of crude are stolen daily by unknown persons. The Presidential Amnesty Office (PAO) asked the international oil corporations (IOCs) to take urgent steps to halt the negative trend rather than accuse the former warlords and their foot soldiers of theft.
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In a statement, PAO's Head, Media and Communications, Daniel Alabrah, stated that the ex-militants were no longer in a position to embark on such a venture, given their re-orientation by the PAO.
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The spokesman stated that the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman of the PAP, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, did not raise a false alarm nor was his call on the oil companies to look inward in their search for the culprits misplaced, as claimed by some of the oil workers' union in their reaction to d SA's comment.

[Folami David]

Oil theft must just stop as soon as possible cos it really makes no sense. Nigeria should have gone past that now....