By Obas Esiedesa / Abuja
Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke
Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, lamented at the weekend that oil theft in Nigeria is supported by international syndicates, describing the trend as another face of terrorism against the country.
It is estimated that oil theft in the Niger Delta region is costing the country about N400 billion annually.
A statement by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said the minister made this remark in London while delivering the keynote address at the Powerlist 2014 where she was also listed as one of the 25 Africans who are transforming the continent.
Alison-Madueke explained that the ugly episode of oil theft has continued to thwart efforts at sustained economic growth because the effect of the oil theft scourge reverberates across the entire spectrum of the Nigerian economy.
"The grave phenomenon of oil theft and its global support system represents another face of terrorism counteracting our efforts at sustaining the trajectory of our high-growth economy, the stability of our society, and the enhancement and wellbeing of our people," the minister said.
She noted that effort at combating the menace locally is made more complicated because of the international slant of the crime.
"Theft of this magnitude is not only highly technical, but it is also an international-level crime. It is aided and abetted by syndicates outside of Africa who are the patrons and merchant-partners of the oil thieves.
"This crime against Nigeria must be resisted, as we simultaneously deploy in-country resources to fight this menace," she said.
The minister called on the global community to advocate strongly against crude oil theft.
"It perpetuates criminality, defrauds economies and discourages investment. This is a crime that threatens not only Nigeria's oil and gas sector, but also threatens the security of the Gulf of Guinea, and by extension threatens the global economic order."
