Reps To Probe Burning Of Vessel Used For Oil Theft

The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, said it will investigate the circumstances involving the setting ablaze of an oil vessel, alleged to be used for oil theft.

Operatives of the newly-contracted private oil pipeline surveillance team, Tantita Security Services, effected the vessel’s arrest alongside its seven-member crew, on October 6, 2022, in the creeks of Escravos, whilst crude oil was being loaded illegally into the ship.
The vessel named MT Deima with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) number 7210525, was caught while loading illegally crude oil, along the the Escravos river in the state.

The development was raised by Onofiok Akpan Luke (PDP, Akwa Ibom) questioning the haste with which the vessel was destroyed and not preserved for investigative purposes.

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Onofiok, in his motion, said:

“Oil theft is a problem that has existed for a long time in the Niger Delta and has caused serious environmental degradation of the region and has negatively impacted on the revenue generation of Nigeria, causing the country to lose 470,000 barrels per day amounting to 700 million dollars monthly, according to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.”

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