By HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE
ABUJA—Senate, yesterday, said it was prepared to back capital punishment for oil thieves and those engaged in bunkering if it would solve the problem of pipeline vandalism.
Inaugurating the Senate Joint Committee on Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, at the Senate Conference Room, Senate President David Mark, said that there was no bigger punishment that could be meted out to oil thieves in Nigeria than capital punishment.
Mark said he would not hesitate to append his signature to any law that could recommend death penalty for oil bunkerers as he regretted that Nigeria had lost so much revenue in recent times due largely to illegal oil bunkering, adding “oil theft deserves capital punishment.”
While charging the committee to recommend ways of curbing oil bunkering, Mark insisted that “the law must have a huge punishment on those that steal our oil to serve as a deterrent to other people who plan on stealing our oil.
“The Bill must also ensure that the current rate of oil theft in the country is minimised to the barest minimum.
“It seems we are having a bad name internationally because of the rate of oil theftin the country. Oil theft deserves capital punishment.
“If it is the public wish, I will endorse a death penalty for oil thieves, if it will stop oil theft and bunkering. It is an unusual situation so it deserves an unusual remedy and drastic punishment.”
Senator Mark assured that the Senate would do everything possible to ensure the PIB was given serious and accelerated attention.
He said: “We are taking this bill seriously. Theworld is changing so fast. So is the petroleum industry. This is not a new bill buta review of the bill to meet with international best practices.
“Nigerians are patriotic enough to know that what we are doing is in the best interest of all Nigerians. We have to update the bill so that we can encourage investors. The bill is a win-win situation for all the parties involved.”
Mark appealed to Nigerians to cooperate with the committee by coming forward withways on how to reposition the country’s oil sector, adding that members of the four joint- committees were not only men of proven integrity, but with the interest of Nigeria at heart.
He said, “We are aware of the competition involved in the oil industry in the world. I want to assure you that all the members of this committee are patriotic Nigerians and the report of this committee will be true reflections of the public views. No member of the committee has a fixed position, this is the first time we are putting four committees together and make the bill that all Nigerians will be happy with.
“This bill must show transparency in the oil industry so that investors will come and get a return on their investment”, adding: “We also want to explore oil in some other parts of the country and not only in the Niger Deltaas we are doing now.
“There is no reason why we can’t find oil in the northern part of the country. The PIB bill is a bill to unite the country and not divide it.It will open up the industry so that we can attract new investors.’’
In his vote of thanks, Co-chairman of the Senate Joint Committee on PIB, Senator Umaru Dahiru, PDP, Sokoto South, assured that members of the committee were dedicated and would do a thorough job thatwill be appreciated by all.
He said the members will not only work as a team but take the interest of all Nigerians at heart while carrying out the public hearing on the PIB.
He appealed to Nigerians to come forward and give useful advice to the committee so that it could give recommendations that will reposition the country’s oil sector.
It will be recalled that the Senate had referred the bill to the Senate Committees onPetroleum Resources (Upstream and Downstream); Gas; Legal and Judicial Mattersand Human Rights for detailed legislative action including a public hearing.
The joint committees are expected to report back to Senate at plenary in six weeks. Chairman, Senate Committee Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Senator Emmanuel Paulker is the co- chair of the joint committees.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/03/senate-advocates-death-penalty-for-oil-thieves/

The question is why don't they push forward a death penalty for corruption? Preferably death by hanging, i sure will love to see some of them dangle for their crimes.

what of 'cash ' thieves and bribe takers.useless pretenders.mtcheeeee

The question is why don't they push forward a death penalty for corruption? Preferably death by hanging, i sure will love to see some of them dangle for their crimes.

I tire o! They have not made laws against mis-appropriation but they want to make laws that will prevent me from taking something that is under my ancestral land. To think there are southern members that will second/support this bill/motion is what churns my stomach. There are other natural resources in other parts of the country being exploited by the locals in the open but they wont make laws prohibiting it even when such ventures are a threat to public health and safety (zamfara lead poison case among others) but when it involves oil.....

they want to stop oil bukering to increase the source of their income. why cant the so call senator enact a law that will punish the corrupt leaders. selfish people wey no de lay betyer egg

What about Aso and Apo thieves?

A right thinking Senator will never support a bill that will lead to his own hanging brothers... Lets find something better to do this morning jare... Only a revolution can work for this current situation...

#occupy Senate House.

I AM SURE IT IS GONNA START WITH DEM

And nothing happens to those that give people 1M to buy MR BIGGS burger?from the state's coffers

Than God!
And the indirect oil thieves. i.e those stealing the money realised from oil.

rubbish........dey r even d ones dat deserve the death penalty 4 money launderin......

Death Penalty should also be placed on those found guilty of corruption. Our leaders obviously make law to please their selfish interest. God go help us

Senators are the first Convict.... Let us keep watching!!!

Make dis senator go siddon 4 ground isn't it obvious dat dey are fighting 4 deir pockets bunch of hypocrite dem dey steal us blindly without any political fight may God punish all of una whether apc or pdp.
13th to comment run outta thread b4 being attackd

why not the same death sentence to our corrupt leaders that steals public funds, then we will be sure they all want gud for naija. Forget Poo and start leadership by example.

Selfish set of people... always ready to enact law against people businesses while theirs are what is drowning the country most. It is understandable for northerners to support the passage of the bill into law but for a southerner to support the passage of this bill into law would beat my highest imagination. We the southerners are watching like vulture any southerner both in the lower and upper house that will support the passage of the bill. We are watching, we are watching!!!

What will be the penalty for pension thieves?

Dancing alingo

When the senators themselves are thieves?

VIVA LA REVOLUCION.

ZECHARIAH 11 VS 16 For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces.

Oh which way nigeria. Even the youths of the country most of dem are confused either fighting for religion sentiment or tribal sentiment , imagine common oil bunkering death penalty but all corrupt
Who stolen our money are working freely in our street some where even pardon for a job well down
..........
Bob marley said almighty god is a living man, you can fool some people sometime but you can't fool all the people all the time
but in nigeria is different. A graduate with degree is after religion and tribe politician belong before he can cast vote and say something good or bad about him

Well let's still keep waiting for god interval . Una go wait end time go meet una una go make history for earth as the only country with resources without stable power and good road

Nigerians will support death penalty for corrupt politicians.

Abeg make una do make crime reduce small small

The same death penalty should be extended to any corrupt offical holding any public post in Nigeria. We should emulate Peoples Republic of China in this aspect.

This is not an issue.Goodluck can't sign death warrant to 98% of his people.David mark should go to his village and show his people how to wear condom and not embarrasing himself in the public.let them do it let mr know what otedola etc did with oil subsidy is not oil thief.person wey come your house carry property and person wey carry money no be thief?hausa want to counter death sentence they want to pit on terrorist with oil bunkering.someone should tell me had it been that oil is in the north are we still going to be one Nigeria today?

that one no mean say them no go still thief and bribrey no go follow

shai! Wat kind of wicked pple b dis? Y u guys ova dea opresin d poor ova d smal oil dey r tapin, God punish u, u r lutin billions wat penalty do u deserv?

make dem pass d law 1st then we want d implcation

.....And so what about "the money thieves nko?...

But they wont support the bill of paying Non Employed Graduate just 20k a month. Rogues and Thiefs