By Milcah Tanimu
The Movement for the Sustainable Development of the Niger Delta (MSDND), a Niger Delta-based group, has thrown its support behind Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and prominent ex-Niger Delta warlords regarding the alarming rates of crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region and the urgent need for the Federal Government to address the prevailing economic challenges in the country.
Former President Obasanjo recently attributed Nigeria’s economic woes to deliberate mismanagement of crude oil production records, claiming that 80 percent of the nation’s crude oil is stolen, thus preventing Nigeria from meeting its OPEC quota.
Kelvin Orughoe, the Publicity Secretary of MSDND, endorsed Obasanjo’s stance, asserting that it reflects a deep understanding of the persistent problem of crude oil theft in the country. Orughoe emphasized the need for President Bola Tinubu to take decisive action to combat this issue.
Orughoe highlighted that crude oil theft is not solely carried out by individuals in the Niger Delta’s creeks and waterways but involves sophisticated networks collaborating with both state and non-state actors, including senior officials at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).
The group urged President Tinubu to engage with ex-militant leaders who possess strategies to tackle crude oil theft effectively, offering solutions that could significantly boost Nigeria’s revenue without additional costs to the government.
Referring to recent failed attempts to stabilize the naira through borrowing, Orughoe argued against further economic weakening through excessive borrowing, proposing instead the implementation of the ex-militant leaders’ plans to increase crude oil and gas production within 30 days, potentially generating over USD 10 billion in additional revenue annually.
Following a stakeholders’ meeting, held at the residence of Senior High Chief Bibopere Ajube in Ondo State, the ex-militant leaders reiterated their call for urgent measures to alleviate economic hardship, particularly in the Niger Delta. They urged the Federal Government to prioritize increasing the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) across all exports to address the suffering of Nigerians.
MSDND, in a statement issued in Warri Delta state, commended Obasanjo and the ex-militant leaders for their vocal stance on these issues and proposed solutions, emphasizing the imperative for Nigeria to overcome its current economic crisis.
The group echoed the ex-warlords’ call for states to take
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