Senator Ned Nwoko
Chairman of the Senate Ad hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, Senator Ned Nwoko, has called for the implementation of a robust technological framework to combat crude oil theft in Nigeria.
Nwoko advocates for AI-Powered Surveillance, including drones and predictive analytics, to monitor pipelines and facilities.
“We must adopt a multi-faceted approach to curb crude oil theft,” Nwoko said.
“This includes strengthening regional security, collaborating with tech firms, and ensuring institutional transparency.”
Nwoko also emphasized the need to empower host communities by engaging them in meaningful infrastructural development.
“The host communities must be incorporated into the system, making them have a sense of belonging in the oil and gas sector,” he said.
The lawmaker cited Saudi Arabia’s corporate social responsibility method as a model Nigeria can emulate.
“Adopting these strategies and embracing AI-driven innovation, we can reclaim control of our oil assets, meet our OPEC quota, and catalyze real economic development,” Nwoko said.
Nwoko stressed that Nigeria can no longer afford to pretend it doesn’t know the cause or cure of its oil theft problems. “It’s time to stop looking away. We must be intentional, patriotic, and honest,” he urged.
