The Minority Caucus in Nigeria’s House of Representatives, has called for an immediate, independent and open investigation into the circumstances that facilitated the alleged illegal operations of MT Heroic Idun.
The call follows reports that its ship, ladened with alleged stolen crude oil was intercepted by the Equatorial Guinea Navy.
In a statement in Abuja, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu said that the shocking development was an issue of great concern to the minority caucus group, adding that it has a huge impact on the Nigerian economy and well-being of its people.
Elumelu also lamented the issue of crude oil theft in the country, which he described as an organised racket, urging the Federal government to strengthen its surveillance on its waters and ensure proper scrutiny of officials.
“It is indeed disturbing that, according to official reports, oil thieves are having a field day stealing up to 400,000 barrels of crude oil every day. This amounts to a daily siphoning of about $40m (given the current average global oil price of around $100 a barrel) accrued revenue meant for the wellbeing of Nigerians.
“The Minority Caucus, standing with Nigerians, demands for an immediate, independent and open investigation into the issue of oil theft in the country with particular refence to the circumstances that facilitated the reported illegal operation by MV Heroic Idun as well as its escape from our waters,” Elumelu said.
The caucus raised questions regarding the ship that require proper probing;
“Who granted the vessel entrance into the Nigerian waters? Who granted it facilities to berth and pump crude oil? What circumstances facilitated its escape from the Nigerian waters? Who is the vessel working for and who are those behind the operation?
“The Minority caucus therefore commends the patriotic officers of the Nigerian Navy for their collaboration with Equatorial Guinea Navy to effect the arrest of the criminal vessel and urges such officers to assist in ensuring that those behind this repulsive crime against our nation are all brought to book.
” Our Caucus also urges President Muhammadu Buhari to, in the interest of Nigerians, rise to the occasion and take urgent step to halt the haemorrhaging of our national economy through crude oil theft,” he added.
However, in a reaction during the weekend, the Nigerian Navy debunked allegations that the arrested Ship, MT HEROIC IDUN, was loaded with three million barrels of stolen crude.
Briefing newsmen at the Naval Headquarters, the Chief of Policy and Plans, Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Saidu Garba, disclosed that, “while conducting routine monitoring of the maritime domain, on August 7, 2022, it was observed that a very large crude oil carrier MT HEROIC IDUN entered the Nigerian maritime environment and headed for Akpo Field without any form of authorisation or clearance.
“MT HEROIC IDUN (IMO:9858058) is registered in Marshall Island with an overall length of 336 meter and capacity of three million barrels. The vessel arrived Akpo Field midnight on 7 August, 2022, with the obvious intention of lifting crude oil within the field”.
He added, “this was, however, spotted by by the Nigerian Navy Maritime Domain Awareness facility which probed the legitimacy of the carrier’s presence in the Total SA operated Akpo Field. The outcome of all relevant enquiries from the controlling agency, NNPC Ltd, revealed that the vessel was not cleared to be in Akpo Field.”
Hauwa Abu
