The Nigerian Senate has enlisted the services of international experts to track illegal vessels used in crude oil theft from the Niger Delta. Senator Ned Nwoko, Chairman of the Senate Adhoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, disclosed this development while meeting with executives of the Youth Wing of the HOSTCOM and Pipelines Impacted States Council of Nigeria.
According to Nwoko, the experts will trace vessel movements and associated payments, regardless of location, to recover lost revenue and curb further illegal crude exports. He assured that the initiative has the full backing of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, with no exemptions for those involved in illicit activities.
Furthermore, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has accused Sterling Oil, an energy firm operating in Nigeria, of illegally drilling additional wells and displacing Nigerian workers in favor of foreign employees. Sterling Oil denied these allegations, asserting its compliance with Nigerian labor laws and commitment to fair employment practices.
Source: ThisDayLive
