Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has reached out to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to forge a partnership aimed at tackling the persistent issue of crude oil theft within the country.
During a compelling interactive session held at the NNPC Towers in Abuja, Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., passionately addressed the urgent need for collaboration in eradicating corruption from the system and curbing the alarming menace of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
Kyari emphasised the magnitude of this economic crime, asserting that it demands the focused attention of the EFCC.
Highlighting the extent of the challenge, Kyari pointed out the audacity with which perpetrators operate, stealing significant volumes of oil daily.
He stressed the urgency of the EFCC’s intervention, acknowledging that crude oil theft is a colossal economic crime that poses a severe threat to Nigeria’s economic stability.
Kyari provided insights into NNPC Ltd.’s ongoing efforts, including deactivating illegal refineries and disconnecting unauthorised pipes linked to their pipelines.
Despite these measures, he expressed the persistent nature of the problem, citing the continuous emergence of illegal connections in known communities and locations.
Expressing concern over the unique challenges faced by NNPC, Kyari stated, “This kind of thing does not happen anywhere else in the world.” He urged the EFCC to leverage its mandate to curtail economic crimes to address this pressing issue.
Addressing corruption within the system, Kyari underscored NNPC Ltd.’s commitment to maintaining high ethical standards. He highlighted the implementation of automated processes to discourage arbitrary actions and clarified that some reported corruption issues were either untrue or recycled from the past.
In response, Ola Olukoyede, the Executive Chairman of EFCC, commended NNPC Ltd.’s dedication to ethical standards. However, he challenged the management to complement codes of ethics with robust monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to enhance deterrence.
This strategic collaboration between NNPC Ltd. and EFCC underscores a united front against economic crimes, particularly crude oil theft, signalling a commitment to fostering transparency and integrity within Nigeria’s vital oil sector.
