The Federal Government is determined to end economic devastation occasioned by the activities of illegal refiners, pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft in the country.
Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva said this, on Wednesday, at Bonny Island, Rivers State, while addressing officers of the 146 Battalion and other security agencies represented in the fight against oil theft.
The Minister was on an assessment tour on some illegal refinery sites at the Niger Delta region creek with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Maj.- Gen. Lucky Irabor and Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, among other dignitaries.
The Minister said President Muhammadu Buhari had directed that the illegal activities must stop and had called for an assessment of the devastation occasioned by the activities of the criminals.
Sylva told the officers and men, “You are here on a mission. I commend you for all the good work you have done our nation depends on this asset to survive, oil and gas is one of the major sustaining assets of the country.
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“Unfortunately, we have had a lot of insecurity around oil facilities and pipelines, this can no longer be condoned. Mr President has directed that this must stop.
“You are here as gallant officers to protect these facilities, henceforth we will be working closely with you to ensure that there is zero loss to our production.