President Jonathan Says West is Buying “Blood Oil”

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met with David Cameron, British Prime Minister and pleaded his country’s assistance to stem the big oil theft in Nigeria’s Niger Delta.

Jonathan reportedly told Cameron, who now chairs G8 that stolen oil from the Nigeria is shipped abroad where it is refined and sold in the international market.

He described the crime as “blood oil”.

Oil theft,  known in Nigeria as illegal bunkering accounts for more than 10 per cent of Nigeria’s daily oil production of 2.2 million barrels.

The president who called for sanctions for all those involved in the illegal trade, said that the G8 has a role to play in putting an end to the crime, challenging the group of industrialised nations to take a stand similar to the one taken on money laundering by public office holders

Jonathan also called on the G-8 to look into the issue of proliferarion of small arms and light weapons in Africa, and long term peace keeping support for Mali, a theme that he took across the Channels to Paris, where he later held talks with President Francois Hollande.

According to him, there is need to sustain stability in Mali after the military intervention, otherwise, the rebels may adopt a guerrillas approach of killings and suicide bombings, thus continuing their terrorist activities by other means.

While noting the cordial relations between Nigeria and the UK, the President expressed commitment to promoting trade and investment between both countries.

“We have a robust relationship in terms of trade, because trade between African nations are more difficult than trade with other countries. Without robust trading the economy cannot develop because whatever you do either primary production or industrial, you need trade facilitation,” Jonathan said.

Responding, Cameron, said both nations had a close relationship based on successful trade and investment which would double in the coming years.

Cameron also said that the two countries would continue to build on their strong diplomatic and political relations as well as aid and development partnership.