Given the Presidential order to rid the nation’s oil sector of economic saboteurs including vandals, criminals, oil thieves, and other nefarious activities inimical to the growth of the sector, Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Audi, has read the Riot Act to NSCDC Commandants in the Niger Delta states for full compliance.
Audi who summoned the affected State Commandants to the National Headquarters of the Corps in Abuja yesterday, gave them marching orders to immediately rejig their Anti-vandal units as t o tackle oil theft and vandalism of critical national assets.
In a communique signed by the Public Relations Officer of the agency, he warned that President Bola Tinubu, had declared zero tolerance for crude oil theft, illegal oil bunkering, and other frivolous dealings in petroleum products, therefore, anyone found aiding and abetting economic saboteurs will face the full wrath of the law.
“This meeting became necessary to convey President Bola Tinubu’s directive on the absolute need to end all sharp practices in the nation’s oil sector.
“Oil remains the mainstay of our economy, you must therefore rejig your Anti-vandal Units to end the problem of oil theft in compliance with Federal Government’s directives.
“We have a duty to protect our oil and gas sectors from vandalism and prevent illegal bunkerers from destroying our oil installations, infrastructure and earnings” the CG stressed.
Dr Audi charged the State Commandants to maintain 24-hour surveillance of the oil facilities across the country, work with host communities and gather enough credible information and intelligence to checkmate the menace.
He emphasised the need for safe keeping of all exhibits, security of exhibit centres and strict adherence to the code of ethics and standard operating procedure of the Corps.
He warned that his administration will not condone any compromise or unethical conduct from any command or personnel, promising to hold any State Commandant accountable for oil theft, acts of indiscipline, or breakdown of law and order in their domains.
“As the lead agency in the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure, there is a need to be determined and resilient in the fight against crude oil theft.
“His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is already changing the narrative for good and we cannot afford to let the President and the entire nation down, the CG assured.
Dr Audi charged the personnel on synergy and collaboration with other security agencies as well as critical stakeholders to reduce crude oil theft to its barest minimum.
