…denies allegation of complicit in theft
The Department of State Services, DSS, has attributed the rise in the nation’s crude oil production in the Niger Delta to its active security measures put in the region.
This came as it denied allegation of being complicit in the oil theft going on the region.
Director General of DSS, Yusuf Bichi, speaking Friday, at a 2-Day Public and Investigative Hearing of the House of Representatives Special Committee on Oil Theft, said the agency should be commended rather than accused of involvement in oil theft.
Bichi, who spoke through his representative and the agency’s Director of Operations, Abdulkadir Salihu, insisted that DSS were not part of oil theft in the Niger Delta region of the country.
“Our security surveillance has led to a remarkable increase in oil production to 1.6 million barrels of crude oil per day”, he explained.
He said it was unfair for his agency to be accused of aiding and abetting oil theft and illegal refining of crude oil, given that his men were working assiduously to end the criminal act,a development he insisted ,has raised the production level to its current stage.
He further explained that DSS was carrying out non-kinetic measures towards tackling the menace of oil theft.
He hinted that this approach is usually done by the operatives of the agency through identification, arrest and prosecution of those criminals behind the incidences of oil theft.
“We ‘ve been taking action and have been consistent with our security surveillance. Whenever there is a report on oil theft, we always alert our men and they always take action.
“Our security surveillance has led to a remarkable increase in oil production to 1.6 million barrels of crude oil per day”.
The secret security agency however lamented to the House probe panel that it has been looking up to it for the enactment of the legal framework to enable the agency tackle oil theft and illegal crude oil refining in the country, “he said.
He further explained that DSS has been consistently pushing for an improvement in agency’s enabling laws as the legal framework for the issue to be addressed holistically.
On measures that would be taken to address some issues of concerns raised by some members of the committee, the he said there was the need to strengthen anti-corruption agencies as well as whistleblower policy.
Earlier,in his address, Chairman of the House Special Committee, Hon Alhassan Ado Doguwa,said the committee was ready to ensure necessary legislations that would aid the work of the security agencies in tackling the menace of oil thieves is enacted by the parliament.
