Magu advocates stiffer penalties for oil thieves

The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mr Ibrahim Magu, has advocated for stiffer penalties for thieves in the country so as to combat illegal oil bunkering in the South South geopolitical zone of the country.

The EFCC boss, according to a statement on Wednesday by Mr Tony Orilade, the spokesman of the commission, Magu made the call when he visited the Commander, Nigeria Navy Ship Pathfinder (NNS Pathfinder) Cmdr. S. Bura in Port Harcourt.

Represented by the Port Harcourt’s Zonal Head of the commission, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, Orilade quoted Magu to has said that the South-South remains the cash cow of Nigeria and tackling oil theft is not only a matter of law enforcement, but a patriotic duty.

“Seventy to 80 per cent of our national revenue comes from the oil sector.

“It is important that the menace of crude oil theft and illegal dealing in petroleum products is tackled frontally.

“We need more of your cooperation to achieve this,’’ he said.

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Speaking during the visit, Bura explained that the Navy was always ready to offer its best services in the interest of the nation.

“We are stakeholders. Nigeria belongs to all of us and as a Service, we have zero tolerance for illegality.

“We do not compromise. I am personally allergic to indiscipline; and so you can be sure that we will always do what we should to tackle oil theft”, Bura said.

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