The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has informed the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) that its operatives test petroleum products to check illegal oil bunkering and ensure supply integrity in Nigeria.
In a statement on Saturday, the EFCC also cautioned illegal oil bunkerers and petroleum marketers in Akwa Ibom State against sharp practices, including procuring and dispensing adulterated products to vehicle owners.
The Uyo Zonal Director of the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE 1), Oshodi Johnson, issued the warning when representatives of IPMAN’s Akwa Ibom State Coordinating Committee paid him a courtesy visit.
This development comes as authorities intensify efforts to combat illegal refineries and illicit sales. Nigeria loses billions of dollars daily to crude oil theft, which undermines the country’s oil production output.
During the visit, IPMAN Chairman Comrade Francis Udeyen sought clarification on the EFCC’s legal authority to test petroleum products. “We need to be informed about how the EFCC is involved in our line of business,” he asked.
In response, Oshodi explained that EFCC officers test petroleum products to check illegal oil bunkering and safeguard supply integrity. “Regarding our testing processes, I can assure you that the EFCC has the best laboratory, which we just launched in Port Harcourt. It is a complete forensic laboratory of international standard,” he said.
READ MORE: https://parallelfactsnews.com/terrorists-attack-niger-benin-pipeline/
He assured IPMAN of continued collaboration to curb the adulteration of petroleum products in Akwa Ibom and across Nigeria. Oshodi emphasized that the warning was necessary to prevent stakeholders from engaging in economic crimes. “If you’re not aiding, abetting, or conspiring with illegal bunkerers, you don’t have a problem with us. We just want to discourage and end the activities of illegal bunkerers because they sell to you, bringing their illegal products to you. But it’s high time we put an end to these activities,” he stated.
Oshodi reiterated that the EFCC is mandated by law to tackle all cases of illegal oil bunkering and other economic and financial crimes, warning that the Commission will take decisive action against offenders.
Follow the Parallel Facts channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCQSAoHgZWiDjR3Kn2E
