The Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mr. Hassan Tampuli says his outfit is committed to working with the various security agencies to ensure criminal gangs operating in the petroleum sector, whose activities negatively impact on revenue to the country, are dealt with.
More than US$200 million in annual tax revenue meant for the state were lost as a result of nefarious activities of service providers of the petroleum sector.
Last year, Mr. Tampuli however disclosed that, steps were taken to address the anomaly, resulting in the curbing of over ninety percent of illegal diversion of fuel from illegal fuel trading activities.
“What this means is that, significant savings have been made following the significant reduction in volumes of exported products that would have been diverted invariably for personal gains at the expense of the state,” he said.
Mr. Tampuli said stringent measures are still being deployed to ensure the system is cleansed.
Speaking in a meeting with the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Rear Admiral Seth Amoama, who paid a courtesy call on him at his office, Mr. Tampuli said the NPA is encouraged by the increasing support his outfit has enjoyed from the Navy, and said such relationship is key to dealing with the illegal fuel smuggling menace, which remains a threat to revenue mobilization by the state.
The activities that have been going on in our territorial waters make it more imperative that we work together especially in relation to the smuggling of petroleum products (bunkering).
Mr. Tampuli said the NPA will fall on the expertise of the Navy in this regard and will do everything within their power to support them achieve the results for the state.
On his part, The Chief of Naval Staff Rear Admiral Seth Amoama, assured the NPA of his outfit’s commitment to confront the smugglers.
He said the visit to the NPA, the first of its kind by one of the country’s first sitting security Commander, will continue at various levels. Rear Admiral Seth Amoama was accompanied by Commodore Issah Yakub, Commodre Dr. Addison.
