Those behind oil theft are in Lagos, Abuja and not in Niger Delta—-Senator Dickson

Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West) has said that he does not share the sentiment that Ijaw youth are behind oil theft in the Niger Delta.

Speaking during a visit to the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Oboro-Gbaraun II, Aketepe, Agadagba on Friday, the ex-governor said that oil theft perpetrators do not reside within the region.

Dickson said Ijaw youths lacked the capacity and technical know-how of pipeline operations.

“Those big players behind the crude oil theft are not from the region but are based in Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the world,” he said.

Dickson said the Ijaw people live in the creeks, earn their daily livelihood on the waterways and farmlands while the thieves pollute the land with their nefarious activities.

“We have no means and no capacity to engage in the high-level operations that result in the daily loss of Nigerian crude oil produced from our place.

“Those who have the capacity to compromise and infiltrate the national security system and infiltrate the national petroleum system; those who have the capacity to hire the tankers and shuttle vessels, they are not Ijaws.

“We do not have the capacity to do that. We do not even have the experience to be involved in that kind of operation,” he said.

The lawmaker, however, urged Nigerian authorities to step up her game in the international arena by pushing for the designation of her stolen crude oil.

“Those who, on a daily basis under declare what is produced; those who have refused to properly monitor and record what is produced for over 50 or 60 years should take the blame.

“It is not the Ijaw youth – harmless people without the capacity and without the technical know-how,” he said.

Dickson, however, commended the traditional ruler for ensuring peace in his kingdom and the entire Niger Delta.

Dickson also visited former militant, Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo.