SECURITY AUTHORITIES ARE URGED BY LAWMAKERS TO STOP BURNING VESSELS CARRYING STOLEN CRUDE OIL.

The House of Representatives warned security services on Tuesday to stop further from burning vessels that are carrying stolen crude oil, claiming that the practice is damaging the environment.

This came after Thomas Ereyitomi’s motion, made on the Green Chamber floor on Tuesday, regarding “The need to discourage the destruction of vessels laden with stolen crude oil with a view to curbing environmental pollution in the Niger Delta Region,” was approved.

Even yet, the House instructed the Environment Committee (when created) to guarantee compliance.

In the motion, Ereyitomi informed the House that there have recently been instances of ships carrying stolen crude oil being intercepted, detained, and then destroyed in the Niger Delta region.

He cited a ship named MT TURA II as having been sunk on Friday, July 7, 2023, in the Escravos river in the Delta State locality of Warri South-West.

“At the time of capture and burning, the 800,000-ton tanker MT TURA was carrying around 150,000 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil.

“A united team of Nigerian security personnel and NNPC Ltd. representatives set fire to the stated vessel.

“Another vessel, MT DEIMA, carrying 1500 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil, was apprehended and burned ablaze in the Warri Escravos river in October 2022.

The well-endowed ecosystem of the Niger Delta region would be further destroyed by setting stolen crude oil-laden vessels fire, he warned, adding that this will “ultimately further affect the livelihood and the overall wellbeing of the people of the area.”