The Nigerian Senate is considering the introduction of stiffer penalties, including classifying major acts of oil theft as terrorism, as a way ending the stealing of the resource.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, made this known on Tuesday while declaring open a two-day public hearing on crude oil theft organized by the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Incessant Crude Oil Theft, chaired by Senator Ned Munir Nwoko (Delta North).
Akpabio said the 10th National Assembly is fully committed to halting the economic sabotage that continues to drain Nigeria’s oil revenues.
He outlined several legislative strategies under consideration, including mandatory digital metering for all oil production and exports, real-time monitoring systems, and tougher legal consequences for offenders.
“Specifically, we are considering stiffer penalties for oil theft, including terrorism charges for major offenders,” he said.
“We must also enhance collaboration among security agencies and demand accountability from institutions tasked with protecting our oil assets.”
He emphasized that oil companies must also play their part by investing in modern surveillance and pipeline security, while host communities should act as first-line defenders rather than accomplices.
The Senate President warned that the current scale of crude oil theft is no longer just an economic issue but a national security threat.
