In a bold show of legislative resolve, the Nigerian Senate, through its Ad-Hoc Committee on Incessant Crude Oil Theft chaired by Senator Ned Nwoko, summoned the leadership of the Army, Navy, and Airforce to address the nation’s deepening oil theft crisis. But this was more than just a routine hearing… It was a clarion call for unified action.
The Senate’s message is clear: crude oil theft is not just a security issue, it is an economic war against Nigeria, and it must be fought through genuine collaboration between all arms of government particularly the military and intelligence communities.
By seeking active partnership with the armed forces, the Senate is pushing for a new phase of strategic synergy, one that goes beyond surface-level interventions and digs into the operational lapses, collusions, and systemic weaknesses that have allowed oil thieves to flourish for decades.
Senator Ned Nwoko, known for his unapologetic stance on national issues, rightly underscored the need for accountability, transparency, and real-time coordination between the Senate and the security agencies stationed in oil-producing regions. The committee understands what is at stake; trillions of naira lost, investor confidence eroded, and a national budget that continually struggles to meet its revenue targets because of criminal exploitation of Nigeria’s most critical resource.
Yet, collaboration is not enough without consequences. There must be a new standard of enforcement. The Senate is not merely inviting the military to talk, it is challenging them to act. And not just to act, but to deliver results that can be independently verified.
This is a defining moment. If the Army, Navy, and Airforce rise to this challenge and work closely with the Senate to dismantle the network of oil criminals both in the creeks and in the boardrooms; Nigeria may finally begin to reclaim its stolen wealth.
But if this opportunity slips through the cracks; if bureaucracy, internal corruption, or institutional ego is allowed to derail the urgency of now… then the criminals will win again, and Nigeria will remain in the grip of sabotage.
The time to talk is over. The Senate has extended a hand. The armed forces must now match that gesture with honest cooperation, decisive action, and national loyalty.
