Tinubu meets with Asari Dokubo in desperate bid to halt oil theft in the Niger Delta

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu is currently having a closed door meeting with Niger Delta Peoples Salvation Force leader Alhaji Asari Dokubo at the presidential villa in Abuja as part of a plan to end oil theft in Nigeria.

Historically, Nigeria has had a crude oil output of 2.5m barrels a day and this was the quota offered by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec). Of late, however, output has dropped to below 1m barrels a day, due a combination of factors including oil theft, pipeline vandalism, insecurity and decaying infrastructure.

In May this year, Nigeria's production increased by 15.6% to 1.3 m barrels a day but then this, this is still half of what national output should be. With oil theft now a booming business, President Tinubu is aware of the fact that he needs the cooperation of the Niger Delta militants and civil society groups if he is to address the problem.

Alhaji Dokubo is likely to be part of the president’s ongoing consultations with opinion leaders from across the Niger Delta region. Last week, President Tinubu reiterated his commitment to halt crude oil theft in the country.

Since assuming office on May 29, President Tinubu has met with other key figures from the region, including the former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Timi Alaibe,. He had also hosted Dr Dakuku Peterside, the former director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.