Nigeria’s House of Representatives has called for the creation of a special court to speed up prosecution of crude oil theft and related offences. A Special Committee on Crude Oil Theft made the recommendation during a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja attended by lawmakers and security and state agencies, including the armed forces, police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, along with officials from the Office of the National Security Adviser. The committee argues that delays in the regular court system, together with outdated laws dating back to the military era, have weakened deterrence and allow organised criminal networks to continue stealing crude oil, vandalising pipelines, and carrying out illegal refining. Lawmakers also cite the economic and security impacts of these crimes, including reduced crude oil production, lost government revenue, and environmental damage, particularly in the Niger Delta.
Committee chairman Alhassan Doguwa says the “special” nature of the crimes warrants a dedicated court process, warning that cases sent through conventional courts may remain unresolved. The proposal includes a review or overhaul of the legal framework and also seeks tougher penalties. Doguwa directed the committee clerk to summon the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, which was absent from the meeting, and discussed cooperation between the National Assembly and the National Security Adviser’s office to implement the reforms.
