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WHEN crude oil theft started festering in the 1990s, no one thought that the problem will one day reach an emergency proportion in the country. Today, every stakeholder in the oil and gas sector is shouting to the roof top that the federal government should tackle the problem urgently. It has become so bad that some oil companies shut down their operations and declared force majeure. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, have equally taken the gauntlet to get the federal government to get serious about solving the seemingly intractable problem which is already having adverse effects on their members and the entire economy. In April, the unions threatened that its members will shut down operations in the oil and gas sector if the problem gets worse. The federal government reacted by reaching out to the global community where the stolen crude is sold to urge them to stop their appetite for stolen crude from Nigeria.

The global community, especially the international oil companies do not think that what the federal government is doing is the best way to solve the problem. Understandably, there is some truth in the stand of the international oil companies that the war against crude oil thieves must start from within. But the federal government and the judiciary appear to lack the political will needed to stem the ugly trend. This is so going by security reports available to the government, which showed that a potpourri of people comprising powerful individuals in the society are part and parcel of the crude oil theft syndicate. This partly explains inertia and dilemma of the federal government in curbing the trend because engaging the powerful syndicate could pull it down. On the other hand, giving them a free hand to operate could cripple the economy. Could this be a zero sum intractable quagmire? It may not necessarily be so. Battling crude oil thieves appears to be a war the federal government must tread carefully in order to win. But the war cannot be won if commitment and strong will are lacking on the part of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Nigerian judiciary. Because of the serious threat this portends for the national economy, our cover story this week entitled: “Why Jonathan Can’t Stop Oil Theft: The Roles Played by politicians, Security Agencies, Foreigners, Oil Companies, Judiciary in Oil Bunkering” gives you the details of the mess the country is in. It was written by Maureen Chigbo, the editor. It is a must read. Enjoy it.

Maureen Chigbo
Editor

Email:mechigbo@yahoo.com

— May 20, 2013 @ 01:00 GMT