Oil theft: FG to use electronic pipeline surveillance

President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan is exploring the possibility of using an electronic pipeline surveillance to track oil theft in the country.

Jonathan gave this indication in his closing remarks at a two-day oil and gas investment forum in Onne, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Jonathan, who was represented by the Senate President, David Mark, described the menace of oil theft as worrisome, stressing, however, that government was ready to tackle it headlong.

While stressing that the government was putting in place mechanism to ensure that vandals found it extremely difficult to access petroleum pipelines, the president gave assurance of continuous support to an investment drive in the sector.

The President directed that the agencies concerned should also ensure strict enforcement on the ban on the illegal discharge of cargo and receiving of vessels at private jetties.

He said that steps should be taken to guard against the breach of national security and loss of revenue to the government.