TheCable

The federal government has inaugurated a committee to investigate crude oil theft in the country.

Rauf Aregbesola, minister of interior, disclosed this on Friday while briefing journalists after the national security council (NSC) meeting at the presidential villa in Abuja.

According to Aregbesola, the council  directed the office of the national security adviser (NSA) in conjunction with the office of the secretary to government of the federation (OSGF) to set up the high-powered investigation committee to unravel perpetrators behind the menace.

He said

oil theft was weighing down on Nigeria’s economy, adding that the team would also determine the rate of illegalities involved and report back to the council.

Also briefing journalists, Lucky Irabor, chief of defence staff, noted that the military will sustain its rapidity of fighting oil theft.

“Activities of the armed forces and other security agencies within the oil and gas base were also commended but with the directive to sustain the pressure, and it is our resolve to deal decisively with those who have been involved in those illegal acts,” he said.

On Tuesday, Edwin Clark, an Ijaw national leader, had asked the FG to institute a judicial inquiry to investigate oil theft.

In September, the national assembly called for a decisive move towards curtailing crude oil theft in the country.

To completely halt the menace, the federal government had said it was committed to deploying technology as well additional security measures.