Senate proposes terrorism charges for oil theft offenders

The Nigerian Senate is considering stricter measures to combat crude oil theft, including proposals to classify large-scale offenders as terrorists and apply corresponding penalties.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio revealed these plans during the opening of a two-day public hearing at the Senate wing of the National Assembly on the persistent and damaging effects of crude oil theft in the Niger Delta.

Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, representing Akpabio, stressed that the 10th National Assembly would not remain passive while the country continues to suffer economic sabotage on such a scale.

“We are prepared to strengthen laws, enhance oversight, and ensure that agencies responsible for protecting our oil assets are held accountable,” he said.

According to Akpabio, the Senate is considering several measures. These include stiffer penalties for oil theft, including terrorism charges for major offenders, and implementation of digital metering and real-time monitoring of all oil production and exports. He also called for increased transparency in oil lifting and revenue reporting, alongside stronger inter-agency collaboration between security and anti-corruption bodies as well as international partners to intercept stolen crude.

The Senate President further urged oil companies to invest in advanced surveillance systems and secure their infrastructure. He emphasised that host communities must view themselves not merely as bystanders but as critical stakeholders in the protection of oil assets.

“Security agencies must demonstrate zero tolerance for complicity,” he stated.

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‘Your time is up’
Addressing the perpetrators directly, Akpabio declared: “To the criminals stealing our crude oil, your time is up. To the agencies tasked with protecting our resources, the nation is watching. And to this Ad-hoc Committee, the Senate expects nothing less than a robust, no-holds-barred report that will guide decisive legislative and executive actions. It is time to take back what belongs to Nigeria.”

Akpabio commended the Senate’s Ad-hoc Committee on Incessant Crude Oil Theft, chaired by Senator Ned Munir Nwoko (Delta North), for organising the public hearing.

Economic impact
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Akpabio noted that oil and gas remain the bedrock of Nigeria’s economy, accounting for over 80% of government revenue and 90% of foreign exchange. However, he lamented how criminal networks continue to plunder national wealth with seeming impunity.

“Recent reports indicate that Nigeria loses between 150,000 and 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day to theft, a staggering haemorrhage that translates to billions of dollars in lost revenue annually,” he said.

He warned that oil theft has far-reaching consequences beyond lost revenue.

“This theft is not a victimless crime. It directly undermines our economic stability, devalues the Naira, starves critical sectors of funding, and perpetuates poverty in oil-producing communities. Worse still, it finances illegal arms, fuels violence, and emboldens criminal networks that threaten national security.”

‘Enemies of the state’
Akpabio described oil theft perpetrators as “enemies of the state” who “must be pursued, prosecuted, and punished to the fullest extent of the law.”

The Senate President called for urgent answers to critical questions such as: who exactly are the perpetrators—militants, government insiders, or international collaborators? Why have current security and surveillance systems failed? How are stolen crude shipments moving across borders undetected?

“This Public Hearing must address key questions. What legislative and policy reforms can close existing loopholes?” he asked.

Akpabio concluded by urging stakeholders to examine the roles played by regulatory bodies, oil firms, security forces, and host communities in either enabling or combating the crisis.

“As I declare this Public Hearing open, I charge all stakeholders to engage with the utmost seriousness. The recommendations from this session must lead to actionable, measurable, and time-bound solutions. Nigeria’s survival depends on it.”