Nigeria Navy Inaugurates Website on Crude Oil Theft

The Nigerian Navy has inaugurated a new website on crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in order to create a channel through which information on how to curb the menace would be passed across to the citizenry, relevant stakeholders and concerned authorities.

This was contained in a statement signed  Wednesday by the Director of Information, Nigerian Navy, Commodore Kabiru Aliyu.

Aliyu said the move was  in furtherance of the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan on October 8, 2012 to the Nigerian Navy to ensure that crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism are wiped out from the nation’s maritime environment.

He explained that the website, www.cot.navy.mil.ng provides details relating to exploration, nominations, approvals, movement and trans-shipment of petroleum products as promulgated by relevant authorities.

The Naval spokesman further explained that the website would serves as a platform to share information, exchange ideas with the international community and report suspicious activities.

He said the website would also generate the desired global awareness on the scourge of oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

He said: "For the benefit of doubt, the only authorised agency that is allowed to nominate, approve lifting, movement and trans-shipment of petroleum products by whatever means of transportation is the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

"In the light of this, any vessel not nominated or approved to lift petroleum products by NNPC has contravened established regulations relating to lifting/ transportation of petroleum products and is therefore liable for prosecution as provided by law."

Aliyu advised members of public to report any information concerning illegal activities relating to petroleum products to the Nigerian Navy, other services, security agencies, NNPC, Department of Petroleum Resources and the Nigeria Police for necessary action.

"All are hereby warned against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering activities in Nigeria as culprits will be prosecuted and sanctioned accordingly," he said.