By Samuel Ogunsona
President Bola Tinubu’s team has made a shocking discovery of huge oil theft in Abia State.
On Saturday, the team set up by the President discovered an oil siphoning outlet where Nigeria loses a whopping 7.2million dollars every month.
Until the discovery on Saturday, the huge funds go into private pockets including leaders of some militant cells operating in the South East State, security sources told our reporter.
Irohinoodua was informed by a top source in Abia that the proceeds of sales of illicit oil from the area is coordinated by an organised cartel with an international network.
“It’s not just a criminal gang, top politicians and some militants in the South East are involved,” the source told our correspondent on Sunday in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State.
On the team were the Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru, his Service Chiefs and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri.
Other members in the team that made the discovery were the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperipe Ekpo, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari.
Our correspondent was informed that the team visited the Trans-Niger Pipeline Right of Way in Owaza, Abia.
It was in the area they they discovered a cobweb of illicit connections where crude oil is siphoned daily.
While visiting Port Harcourt on Saturday, Lokpobiri had hinted that the refineries in the oil rich State will soon begin production before the end of the year
Experts say Nigeria loses crude oil amounting to about 600,000 barrels daily to rogue cells operating in collaboration with international crooks.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) however admits losses of 470,000 barrels per day.