Did FG chop the oil money alone?

Rivers State governor Chief Rotimi Amaechi has called on the federal government to fight against oil theft and financial diversion in the country.

Amaechi made the call on Tuesday, when the British Minister for Africa and Member of Parliament, Mark Simmonds visited him in Port Harcourt.

The governor recalled that his administration had procured two surveillance helicopters that would assist the federal government to combat oil theft, but expressed disappointment over the inability of the federal government to ensure its arrival to the state.

He said: “I don’t know how much you have seen about oil theft, and I don’t know if the federal government is serious about combating oil theft. Why I say this is that for two years now, the federal government has refused entry into the country, two surveillance helicopters paid for by the Rivers State government. These helicopters have cameras and their job is to fly all over and whomever that is stealing oil, you will see. And the helicopter will have a monitor with the Army, Police, Airforce and with the Department of State Security (DSS)

“I suspect the refusal may be for political reasons.The helicopters have been packed in America for two years now, and the Rivers State government is paying demurrage on them. But, if you see how much oil we are losing, we hear it is about $7 billion annually, then you will see that we need the helicopters.

“We paid for it, not the federal government, and we are prepared to help them but the President has emphatically refused to allow the two helicopters into the country for the past two years. We are still paying demurrage.

“So if the federal government says they need help, why not bring in the helicopters rather than run to the British government. These are questions you should ask them. Our problem is not just oil theft but financial diversion also,” Amaechi said.