The Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), Tony Elumelu, has asked the Federal Government to disclose the individuals behind the stealing of Nigeria’s crude oil.

Elumelu said some people have been stealing the country’s crude oil with vessels that move through the territorial waters, stressing that the government and security agencies should be able to disclose those behind the oil theft.

The billionaire businessman said this in an interview published by Financial Times on Friday, August 9, 2024.

He stated that oil thieves still take away 18 per cent of Nigeria’s crude oil, saying: “42,000 barrels of crude pumped out daily. Theft still takes away about 18 per cent of production.

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“This is oil theft, we’re not talking about stealing a bottle of Coke you can put in your pocket. The government should know, they should tell us.

“Look at America – Donald Trump was shot at and quickly they knew the background of who shot him. Our security agencies should tell us who is stealing our oil. You bring vessels to our territorial waters and we don’t know?”

Elumelu, who also spoke about the japa syndrome, added: “I support it, totally. “I don’t have a problem with people saying ‘I’m going to Canada, UK or US.’

“Joblessness is the betrayal of a generation. You’ve gone to school and come back with your dreams and aspirations and you don’t have the opportunity.

“For people who decide to find solutions elsewhere, no one should stop them. But for those who decide to stay, they should try to create an impact and build a legacy.”

The Star