Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), has called for urgent action against crude oil theft in Nigeria, highlighting that technological advancements now make it possible to track and address this issue effectively.
Speaking at the 2024 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Lagos, she emphasized that the widespread theft of crude oil severely undermines Nigeria’s economic and financial health.
Okonjo-Iweala asserted that oil theft has significantly hampered efforts to strengthen the nation’s foreign reserves and underscored that there are now ample technological tools to combat this problem.
She urged that there should be no more excuses for failing to act against those responsible for these crimes. Her comments reflect a growing demand for accountability and efficient use of available technology to safeguard Nigeria’s national assets.
