Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, on Friday urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to curb illegal crude oil bunkering in the Niger Delta.
Adeyanju said Tinubu’s administration does not need to borrow money from “China, Brazil, or IMF” if only it can tackle crude oil bunkering in the Niger Delta.
Reacting to the arrest and release of investigative journalists in Rivers by the Nigerian Army, Fisayo Soyombo, Adeyanju said resources from crude oil in the Niger Delta can sustain Nigeria.
DAILY POST had reported that Soyombo alongside others were arrested for oil bunkering and were held in custody of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt for three days.
Following uproar from Nigerians, the army bowed to pressure and released Soyombo, last Friday,
However, addressing a press conference in Abuja, Adeyanju said: “We have been saving this for years that crude oil theft is not possible without the collusion of state actors.
“It’s important that we holistically that Tinubu’s government is committed to fighting crude oil theft in the country and journalists like Fisayo must be protected at all cost to do their job and expose corruption, to report as they do fit without any form of harassment.
“Many of us are keenly looking forward to the revelations by Fisayo even though his investigation has been jeopardized by the military.
“On our end, we had written a petition against crude oil theft in this country early this year and till today, nothing has been done. A series of complaints have been filed against key officers of the Nigerian Navy but nothing has been done in terms of investigating the corrupt activities and collision on the part of the Navy.
“The reason why people lobby to go to the Niger Delta especially the creeks is because they want to be involved in the lucrative oil bunkering and theft in that region.
“We do not need to go to China, Brazil, or IMF to borrow money if we can prevent crude oil theft in our country.
“The president and key stakeholders must commit to prevent crude oil theft in our country.”
Fisayo Soyombo: You don’t need to borrow, we have crude oil – Adeyanju to Tinubu
