Senator Ned Nwoko, Chairman of the Senate Ad hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, has said that Nigeria must implement a robust technological framework to tackle crude oil theft across the country.
In an interview in Abuja on Monday, Nwoko stated that crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region has long plagued the nation, resulting in severe economic losses, environmental degradation, and national insecurity.
He noted that, as a country heavily reliant on oil revenues to fund its budget and development, it is imperative that Nigeria treats its national assets with the seriousness they deserve. He stressed that it is time to reclaim control of these oil assets.
To address the problem, Nwoko advocated for the deployment of AI-powered surveillance technologies, ranging from drones to predictive analytics, to monitor the nation’s pipelines and oil facilities.
He also called for the strengthening of regional security, observing that oil theft thrives in environments of insecurity.
“Parallel investment in regional peace and stability is crucial. The host communities must be incorporated into the system, thereby giving them a sense of belonging in the oil and gas sector by engaging them in meaningful infrastructural development,” he said.
Nwoko also emphasised the need for collaboration with technology firms.
“We must actively engage global and local tech companies with proven capacity to deliver real-time monitoring and risk detection.
“Institutional commitment is also needed to curb crude oil theft. The NNPCL and other stakeholders must be held accountable.
“Monitoring should not just be technological it must include institutional transparency.
“Adopting Saudi Arabia’s corporate social responsibility model in engaging oil and gas host communities will also go a long way in tackling crude oil theft.”
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He added that if Nigeria adopts these strategies and embraces AI-driven innovation, the country could reclaim control of its oil assets, meet its OPEC quota, and catalyse real economic development.
According to the chairman of the Senate ad hoc committee on crude oil theft: “We can no longer pretend we don’t know the cause or the cure of our problems.
“It’s time to stop looking away. We must be intentional, patriotic, and honest. We must emulate nations whose progress is not mythical but practical. Let us do what is right for Nigeria for now and for the future.
“The NNPCL and the various international and national oil companies (IOCs and NOCs) operating in the sector must act decisively.
“Under the supervision of patriotic leadership, they must adopt advanced technological systems to protect our oil infrastructure and deter sabotage.”
Nwoko recalled that in 2022, the then Group Managing Director of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari, assured Nigerians of efforts to adopt a model similar to Saudi Aramco’s in combating oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
He said Kyari had admitted at the time that, although Nigeria’s system was not yet as advanced as Aramco’s, the aim was to eventually attain that level of sophistication.
“Sadly, we are still far from that benchmark. As a nation, we must summon the courage to call a spade a spade.
“We cannot continue with half-measures. Every meaningful step that can rescue this country from the stranglehold of economic sabotage must be taken without delay.
“To move forward, we must learn from countries that have got it right. How did developed nations build systems that effectively secure their oil and gas infrastructure? What strategies and technologies do they use?” he added.
