The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has implicated multi-national oil giant in the alleged illegal lifting of a petroleum product, butane.
If the allegation by NMDPRA is proven to be true, it will mean that viral allegations against international oil companies (IOCs) of been involved in sabotaging the economy is true.
Nigeria is said to lose billions of dollars to theft of petroleum products yearly.
In the letter by NMDPRA’s Chief Executive, Mr Farouk Ahmed, to the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, and titled “Economic sabotage, criminal damage and theft through illegal petroleum lifting operations at Bonny River Terminal”, he alleged that Exxon Mobil was lifting Butane at the Bonny terminal with the vessel, marked Barumk Gas without the authorisation or participation of NMDPRA.
Ahmed, in the letter, stated that NMDPRA was the agency of Government statutorily responsible for regulating operations at the Terminal.
“This unlawful action is being facilitated with the active connivance of Exxon Mobil who have illegally destroyed the locks on the sea-line valve whose keys are in the custody of the Authority.
“The actions of Exxon Mobil and Barumk Gas constitute economic sabotage, criminal damage and theft of Nigeria’s national resources.
“You are by this letter kindly requested to urgently prevent the sailing out of Barumk Gas until investigations into the matter are concluded.”