Senator Buhari Frowns At Lack Of Punitive Measures To Curb Oil Bunkering In Nigeria
The lawmaker representing Oyo North Senatorial District, Distinguished Senator Dr AbdulFatai Omotayo has frown at lack of punitive measures to curb oil bunkering in Nigeria, describing the menace as economic sabotage by certain unpatriotic Nigerians.
He stated this today Tuesday 10th October, 2023 on the floor of the Senate while contributing to a motion on Oil Bunkering in Nigeria sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko representing Delta South.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation queried why an act that started in 1970 has been going unabated for 53 years and nobody is punished for such economic sabotage that is causing the nation to lose the sum of N2.3 Trillion every year.
In his words ; “The biggest problem we have in this country Mr President is punitive measure. All these there are laws to it. A colleague of mine while contributing even said he has been arresting people that do bunkering in his backyard and nothing has happened. We cannot continue like this because day in day out people do it and it has become a lucrative business because nobody is being punished for it.”
Senator Buhari further said there is no single year that motions on oil bunkering do not feature in the Senate which usually lead to setting up of various committees by the Senate, still the problems persist. He informed that until the day the country wakes up and do what is called serious punishment no matter who is involved and whose ox is gored, nothing would change.
The 3rd Term Lawmaker concluded by recalling a time during his University days when the government of General Muhammad Buhari introduced a punitive measures against illicit drugs and certain individuals who were found guilty then were shot dead which made Nigerians to sit up and even clear the country’s bad image on the world map.
Oil bunkering which has been in existence for over five decades is an economic sabotage which has cost Nigeria trillions of naira which the nation ought to have used to develop the host communities and other sectors of the economy.
Until this serious threat is addressed by putting into law strong punitive measures against the perpetrators, this economic sabotage will continue.
It is high time the government, with the support of relevant stakeholders stood up to finding lasting solutions to the activities of these evil minded, greedy and unpatriotic individuals.
