The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva and Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPC, Mele Kyari have called on the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma to help in the fight against bunkering of crude oil.
Sylva, and Kyari who were in Owerri in company of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor said that Nigeria is losing 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day as a result of the drop from 1.8 million to 1.4 million barrels per day production.
Sylva said the visit was part of industry-wide intervention to curb crude oil theft in Nigeria.
He further disclosed that his delegation was in Imo State to seek the cooperation of the state government and host communities in a collaborative effort to stop the alarming levels of crude oil theft which has now become a national emergency.
“We’ve come here to engage the state government to get your buy-in and support,” Sylva said.
In his own address, Uzodimma described the consequences of crude oil theft as very alarming, a situation that has not only led to drop in earnings for the government but has also created environmental pollution and other health hazards.
The Governor promised that the state government will do her best to support oil producing companies and collaborate with the Federal Government.
Governor Uzodimma thanked NNPC Limited for the 200 bed hospital at the Imo State University Teaching Hospital Orlu, where construction is about to kick off.
He said:”We are committed – We are determined – The consequences of oil theft is very alarming – Our economy is bleeding”.
