Contrary to the policy of the Federal Government through the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu in tracking vessels conveying Nigerian crude oil to the international market with the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), maritime experts have faulted the plan.
Industry observers, who barred their minds with Business Hilights, queried the role of a law enforcement agency known for investigating and prosecuting suspects in financial infractions in tracking vessels when a full-fledged government agency statutorily in charge maritime administration exits.
Experts averred that it is the official responsibility of the Nigerian maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to monitor or track movement of ocean going vessels be it crude oil or any other vessel.
They argue that such jobs will either distract EFCC or expose the anti-graft body to temptation and deviation to duties not covered in the establishment Act.
It would be recalled that Dr Kachukwu had at the Nigeria International Petroleum Summit in Abuja disclosed that every barrel of crude oil produced and exported out of Nigeria is now being tracked by the Federal Government in collaboration with the EFCC.
Kachikwu said the government and the EFCC recently commenced the tracking of vessels lifting crude oil from Nigeria.
The minister said, “Today, for the first time, whatever you are producing in this country, as per when it is being produced – barrel for barrel, we can tell. We can also tell where it is going to for the purpose of discharge.
“So, one of the things that they (Department of Petroleum Resources) have been able to set up, which they are finalising now, is a forensic analysis that shows you things. We can see every vessel for the first time that comes in into Nigeria. We can see their activities.”
“I remember when they were presenting this to me about a month ago, one of the things that was exciting was seeing a couple of vessels that were doing some run around in Nigeria. They (vessels) go to a location to pick a million barrels, then they go somewhere else, then they come back to the location when they should be heading to Port Novo or the United States.
“So, one of the things we are trying to do with the EFCC is to be able to gather these data month-by-month and say let’s track these particular vessels; who are the owners, why did they make this stop, what happened when they went there?”
“So, for the first time, we are going to soon be able to tell on a day-by-day basis the funny activities that took place by those operating in the crude environment and where they went with it. And we are also going to extend this to the downstream sector,” Kachikwu noted.
