Nigeria has called out through President Goodluck Jonathan on the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) to collaborate with the Federal Government, in every way possible to help ensure that refineries outside the country that receive stolen crude oil from Nigerians are identified and appropriately sanctioned.
Mr. President stated this while speaking in audience with the chairperson of EITI, Ms Claire Short, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, last Monday. He solicited the support of the EITI to do more in supporting the Federal Government efforts to stop the exportation of stolen crude oil from Nigeria.
“The efforts of EITI in criminalising ‘blood diamonds’ from African mines have helped in curtailing that illegal business. I urge you to also support Nigeria, as we confront the forces stealing Nigerian crude oil.
“The theft of crude oil from Nigeria involves the collusion of foreigners and the stolen crude is refined abroad. EITI can use its mechanisms to help us track down the thieves and those who receive the stolen crude oil.”
The President noted that Africa was losing a lot through leakages in the mining and extractive industry and therefore urged Ms Short and her colleagues at EITI to help in ending the exploitation of Africans and African nations by multinational companies engaged in the extraction of the continent’s natural resources.
President Jonathan further stated that in keeping with the Federal Government’s commitment to giving the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) necessary support and freedom to discharge its duties, he would inaugurate an expanded inter-ministerial committee next week.
He said this was to ensure greater synergy in NEITI’s investigations and to facilitate the implementation of its recommendations for greater probity in Nigeria’s oil industry.
Jonathan commended EITI’s efforts to discourage exploitation and corruption in extractive industries across the world and assured Ms Short and her team that Nigeria would continue to strive for even greater openness and transparency in its oil and mining sectors.
