Stakeholders in the downstream oil sector under the aegis of National Oil and Gas Association of Nigeria (NOGASA), Akwa Ibom State chapter, have commended the efforts of the operatives of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in effectively taking the war against oil thieves to their den.
They said the initiative had stemmed the incidences of oil sector frauds in the state.
Addressing journalists at a press conference in Uyo, the state capital, the state chairman of NOGASA Comrade Sam Osung, stressed the need for a holistic action involving the relevant security agencies to stamp out the menace of oil theft, pipeline vandalism, bunkering, oil diversion and other unwholesome practices bedeviling the sector.
While commending the NSCDC for fighting the oil sector illegalities in the state to a standstill in the last five months, the former head of Surveillance and Intelligence Monitoring team of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in – charge of Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, regretted that the sector would have been completely cleansed of the scourge if all the hands of the industry stakeholders were on deck.
He recalled that there had been series of petitions against the agency in the past concerning allegations of security lapses but expressed optimism that such action had since reinforced the combat -readiness of the NSCDC operatives to tackle the oil sector thieves.
He said, ”As stakeholders in the downstream supply and distribution chain, we cannot take for granted the role of the NSCDC especially in the area of mitigating irregularities and enabling a good atmosphere for legitimate businesses to thrive.”