Elder statesman and one time Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark has alleged that a syndicate of military officers, working in cahoots with disgruntled officials of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC Limited, is behind the theft of crude oil running into trillions of naira over the years.
Speaking to reporters in Abuja, he enjoined the Federal Government to institute a judicial inquiry to probe those behind oil theft and sabotage of the nation’s economy.
Expressing support for establishment of modular refineries to replace illegal refineries in the Niger Delta, he called on authorities to prevail on international Oil Companies to relocate their operational headquarters to the region.
Clark said it was unfortunate that those who reap from the theft of crude oil live far above their means in Abuja and other major cities of the world without any fear of scrutiny by anti-graft and law enforcement agencies.
Clark, who was reacting to the recent discovery of large-scale oil theft at Yokri, close to Forcados terminal, said it was now clear that the impression of massive oil theft by Niger Delta youths was deliberately created by oil industry officials to cover their criminal acts.
He contended that none of the youths in the Niger Delta could hire a boat, like the MT African Pride, from abroad, for the purpose of stealing crude oil.
