EU Says Gulf Of Guinea’s 80% Piracy From Nigeria

The European Union has said about 80 per cent of the piracy in the Gulf of Guinea is linked to the activities of Nigerians and their vessels.
The EU Head of delegation to Nigeria Ambassador Michel Arrion  who spoke in Abuja recently at a media luncheon said the country should first do a thorough in-house cleansing to halt the drift rather pointing accusing fingers to Europe
 “It (oil theft) happens either because it is in the Nigerian waters, or because the oil stolen is from Nigeria or that the pirates are Nigerians,” he said.

The European Union has said about 80 per cent of the piracy in the Gulf of Guinea is linked to the activities of Nigerians and their vessels.
The EU Head of delegation to Nigeria Ambassador Michel Arrion  who spoke in Abuja recently at a media luncheon said the country should first do a thorough in-house cleansing to halt the drift rather pointing accusing fingers to Europe
 “It (oil theft) happens either because it is in the Nigerian waters, or because the oil stolen is from Nigeria or that the pirates are Nigerians,” he said.
He also blamed government for the huge amount of revenue lost to oil theft in Nigeria, saying the excuse that European countries provide a ready market for the stolen products does not hold water.
180,000 Barrel of crude oil amounting to about $1.8billion oil revenue is believed to be stolen from Nigeria economy daily.
Arrion said the claims of existing market in Europe were not enough to explain why oil theft goes on unabated.
He also said that the allegation linking European countries to the illegal business was wrong.
He said, "You don't explain your corruption because you were tempted by  corrupt people. Just clean your house first. Of course at the core of  piracy problems are the pirates ?not the guys you eventually meet at the sea or that are buying the product. This is not true.
"This information about European countries buying stolen oil is simply not true. Don't repeat what is not substantiated.  I fully deny any European involvement, but probably  there might be some exceptions.. there are always some exceptions.? But I am sorry, don't  try to transfer the blame to foreigners. No please this is not correct, am sorry."
He therefore urged  Nigeria and other countries around the gulf of Guinea region to rise up to the challenge of piracy; explaining that "80% of the cases of piracy are linked to Nigeria either because it is done on Nigeria water or the oil that was stolen is Nigerian or because the pirates are Nigerians or for all kinds of reasons Nigeria is linked to all cases of piracy. So, Nigeria must lead the process."
The piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, he further stressed that "it is principally the responsibility of ?states, people originating from gulf of guinea."
Arrion who also spoke on the issue of gas flaring said that  unless there is a law guiding the operations in the oil and gas industry, the process might continue.
He noted that as the situation were now; the companies will prefer to flare the gas than to sell it as there is no law regulating the industry.