President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday said the Federal Government had set aside $1bn to implement a comprehensive programme aimed at checking the menace of crude oil theft, vandalism of oil and gas infrastructure and prosecution of oil thieves.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, quoted the President as speaking at The Hague in separate meetings with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mr. Mark Rutte; and the Chief Executive Officer, Shell International, Mr. Ben van Beurden.
“Oil theft is an aspect of global terrorism, which has become a big industry on its own. It has become a major threat to the Nigerian economy and we need to work with all stakeholders to curb it. The thieves must be traced, apprehended and prosecuted,”