Dr Abdullahi Jabi, the Secretary-General of the International Institute of Professional Security (IIPS), has called for urgent action to end oil theft in the Niger Delta.
Jabi in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja, said that issue of bunkering was deeply rooted, requiring additional measure to address.
He said that bunkering was being done by those that had money and technical know-how as well as politically exposed persons.
“ Some elites are much involved in bunkering because they are the ones sponsoring their boys to do the job
”Government should adopt political means to end bunkering by licencing the illegal refineries to operate as modular refineries to be able generate revenue for the state instead of destroying them,” he said.
According to him, the four refineries in Warri, Kaduna, and Port Harcourt are not operating.
”Why are we still paying staff of over 10,000 who are not adding value to economic development.
“The National Assembly should legislate that henceforth no president should claim the ministerial appointment of Minister of Petroleum when he has no knowledge of the industry,’’ he said.
He also called for creation of more states for the South East to address the issue of maginalisation and tackle the issue of IPOP and unknown gunmen in the region.
He said that creating an additional state would help to bring the zone to a point of equilibrium with other geopolitical zones.
“ Not only that, they should bring them on board to tap into their wealth of experience and skills to ensure that that economic prosperity of the zone is not killed.
“They should pacify the youth by whatever means, whether through job creation, empowerment or whatever skills they want to give to them so that there can be peace in that region.
