The Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Senator Eteng Jonah Williams, has called for stronger investigation, prosecution and adjudication of crimes in Nigeria’s hydrocarbon sector.
Senator Williams made the call while declaring open a three-day technical workshop on “Enhancing Judicial Deterrence in the Prosecution and Sentencing of Hydrocarbon Sector Crimes.”
The workshop held at Four Points by Sheraton Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State from 20th - 24th September, 2026 was organised by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions of the Federation in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser, and brings together relevant stakeholders in the criminal justice and petroleum sectors to examine ways of strengthening the prosecution and sentencing of hydrocarbon-related offenses.
Speaking at the event, Senator Williams said petroleum-sector crimes have implications beyond conventional economic offences, noting that they can undermine government revenue, energy security, environmental protection, investment confidence and the welfare of Nigerians.
He emphasised that the existence of laws alone was insufficient, stressing that “laws are only as effective as their implementation.”
“Our objective, therefore, should not simply be more arrests or prosecutions. We must strengthen the entire criminal justice chain, from detection and investigation to evidence gathering, prosecution, adjudication, and sentencing, while protecting due process and the rights of accused persons,” he said.
The Senator also highlighted the increasingly sophisticated nature of petroleum-related crimes, calling for stronger forensic capabilities, financial intelligence, digital evidence management, technical expertise and inter-agency collaboration.
Senator Williams further disclosed that the National Assembly has commenced the process of amending the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 1983, and the Petroleum Production and Distribution (Anti-Sabotage) Act, 1975, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s legal framework for tackling hydrocarbon-sector and other related crimes.
Other dignitaries at the workshop were Distinguished Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, Representative of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Senior Judicial officers, Senior Representatives of the Oil and gas industry, Representatives of Security and law enforcement agencies, including the Nigeria Police, NSCDC, Navy, and other relevant agencies
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