The House of Representatives Special Committee on Crude Oil Theft has proposed the establishment of a special court to accelerate the prosecution of crude oil thieves and other economic saboteurs.

The recommendation was made during a stakeholders' meeting in Abuja involving lawmakers, security agencies and representatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser, focused on reviewing Nigeria's legal framework for tackling crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and related offences.

Chairman of the committee, Alhassan Doguwa, said weak and outdated laws, coupled with prolonged court processes, have hindered efforts to combat crude oil theft and protect the nation's oil resources, noting that many existing statutes date back to the military era and no longer deter sophisticated criminal networks.

Doguwa stressed that a specialised court would ensure speedy trials and effective punishment for offenders, adding that delays in the conventional judicial system often allow suspects to evade justice. He also called for a comprehensive review of the legal framework, noting that Nigeria's oil production continues to fall below budget projections due to persistent theft and pipeline vandalism.