Kehinde Fajobi
Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has praised the military for its role in curbing crude oil theft in the Niger Delta and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to collaborate with the Defence Headquarters Joint Monitoring Team to combat pipeline vandalism and illegal oil activities.
During a visit by the team led by Major General Jamil Jimoh to the Government House in Yenagoa on Monday, Diri expressed satisfaction with the military’s leadership in addressing oil bunkering in the region. He was optimistic that continued collaboration between security agencies and key stakeholders in the oil industry would significantly reduce crude oil theft and boost production.
“We have already taken steps as a state to curb crude theft and environmental pollution,” Diri said, explaining that his administration had formed committees at the local government level and initiated awareness campaigns to educate the youth on the dangers of engaging in oil theft and vandalism.
Diri highlighted that increasing oil production in Bayelsa would lead to greater revenue from the 13% derivation fund, and he criticised the existing system where states depend on federal allocations.
He called for true federalism, allowing states to exploit their resources and pay taxes to the centre, which would foster their development.
The governor also urged oil companies to replace old equipment, noting that frequent oil spills are often blamed on sabotage. “If companies improve their facilities, we can reduce these incidents,” he added.
Acknowledging past allegations of military involvement in oil theft, Diri expressed relief that security forces are now spearheading efforts to combat the menace.
“It’s disheartening to hear that our own military was once accused of oil theft, but I’m glad to see that they are now leading the charge. The Bayelsa government will fully support this initiative,” he said.
In his remarks, Major General Jimoh sought the state’s cooperation to further strengthen their operations against oil theft and vandalism.
He commended Governor Diri for his developmental achievements and ongoing efforts to tackle oil-related crimes, affirming that his team was focused on securing oil facilities in the Niger Delta and increasing production.