Oil Theft in the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry: Towards Timely Prosecution of Perpetrators

Abstract

Crude oil theft has in recent years become a major cause of challenge to the Nigerian government owing to the various negative impacts of the menace within the Niger-Delta Region of the country. The obvious effects of oil theft in the Nigerian nation state includes the loss of economic revenue, environmental hazards, and well as threats to the international oil companies. This article traces the historical background of oil theft in Nigeria together with the overall effects and challenges on both the government and residents of the areas where oil theft activities are carried out. The paper critically examines the Nigerian legal and institutional framework for combatting oil theft focusing on both constitutional provisions, the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, criminal law legislations and other subsidiary regulatory frameworks. The paper maintains that despite the availability of legal frameworks criminalizing oil theft, the act continues unabated and this is owing to the weak and ineffective enforcement thus leading to limited prosecution of perpetrators. The paper concludes that it is the will power on the part of the Nigerian government coupled with other factors like strict enforcement of legislations, attention and development of the Niger-Delta Region, prompt arrest and prosecution of identified perpetrators and decisive action from government that would help to bring oil theft to a quick end.

Keywords: Oil Theft; Niger-Delta Region, Arrest and Prosecution; Legal framework, Negative Impact.