NLC decries crude oil theft in Nigeria

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

NIGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, has expressed grave concern over the high rate of illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalisation in Nigeria, warning that it could ruin the nation’s economy if not immediately checked.

NLC at its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Benin City, Edo State, argued that a situation whereby nearly 50 per cent of Nigeria’s crude was stolen by highly placed individuals and other criminals was dangerous for the nation’s economy and survival.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the NLC also called on President Goodluck Jonathan to speedily take the necessary actions to stop this show of shame.

The communiqué, signed by Comrade Abudlwaheed Omar and Chris Uyot, NLC President and Acting General Secrtary respectively, reads “NEC acknowledges that illicit activities in the form of occasional illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalisation have been familiar features of oil production in the Niger-Delta but wishes to reiterate that the same cannot be said to be the situation at the moment, as nearly 50 per cent of Nigeria’s crude is stolen by the high and the mighty.

“NEC is outraged by this heinous crime and calls on Mr. President to speedily take the necessary action(s) to stop this show of shame. NEC warns that in the event Mr. President fails to act within a reasonable time, it will take all the steps necessary, including mobilizing its members to stop oil production.”

On corruption, the communiqué stated “NEC condemns the rising incidence of corruption in government and government’s ambivalence towards it and warns that this ambivalence is capable of destroying the nation.

Accordingly, it urges the government to demonstrate the necessary will and skill to combat corruption in all its ramifications, especially the cases of Halliburton, Siemens, pension fund, oil subsidy fund, Malabo Oil among others.

“NEC is similarly worried by the inability of the judiciary to speedily dispense justice in high profile corruption cases, citing the cases of James Ibori and Erastus Akingbola who were convicted in the UK with the same set of evidence that Nigerian courts could not secure conviction, NEC advises the judiciary not to sacrifice justice on the altar of technicalities.”