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Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and his counterpart
in Bayelsa State, Governor Seriake Dickson have commissioned 30 gunboats for the Joint Task Force in Niger Delta, just
as Uduaghan has accused the International Community of complicity in crude oil
theft in Nigeria, reports ITRealms.
Uduaghan who made his positon known at the Defence
Headquarters for the Joint Task Force (Operation Pulo Shield) in Yenegoa,
Bayelsa State, noted that 80 per cent of Nigeria's stolen crude are exported
for use by refineries outside Nigeria.
"Over 80 per cent of the stolen crude is exported and
refined outside Nigeria, the International Community needs to cooperate with
Nigeria to wipe out crude oil theft", he said.
Uduaghan also said that the military cannot do the job alone,
stressing that the International Community must join forces with Nigeria to
check the growing threat of oil theft in the country.
President Goodluck Jonathan, he said, has remained committed
to cleansing crude oil theft, pipeline vandalization and other criminal acts
bedeviling the nation’s economy, urging everyone to join hands to solve the
problem.
"This crude oil theft requires the participation of all
of us; some of the people who are involved in the crude oil theft and pipeline
vandalism are our brothers, our friends and in some cases, our heroes. We must
be involved in the engagement of the people involved in these activities for
them to desist from the criminal acts" Uduaghan said.
He, therefore, commended the military for its fight against
crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism reiterating that the gunboats would
boost the operations of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta.
Equally speaking, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State,
expressed appreciation to President Jonathan for equipping the military which
has made it more proactive in exercising its functions.
Aside the warships recently given to the Nigerian Navy,
Dickson said "With these gunboats, the capacity of members of JTF to check
the activities of criminals will be enhanced."
Welcoming his guest earlier, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air
Chief Marshal Alex Badeh thanked President Jonathan for his support for the
Nigerian Armed Forces, stating that the boats would be deployed for the economic
interest of the country.
"We want peace to prevail, so trouble-makers should be
warned, criminals should desist from their unpatriotic acts," he said,
adding that the fight against insurgency and criminal activities was yielding
the desired results.
JTF Commander of Operation Pulo Shield, Major-General
Emmanuel Atewe reassured they will through cooperation from the riverine
communities win the war against crude oil thieves.
Jide Osu/GEE
ITREALMS ... delivering news for development
Pix: Hon. Seriake Dickson, Governor of Bayelsa State; Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh; Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Governor of Delta State; Chief of Army Staff, General Kenneth Minima and Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin during the commissioning of a 30 gun boat in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State
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