The Senate President, David Mark, has condemned the increasing incidents of oil theft in the country, insisting that capital punishment be dealt on offenders found wanting of plying the illegal trade.

The Senate President made his position known in an address delivered to welcome lawmakers from a two week recess the upper chamber had earlier embarked on.

He said: “I still maintain my earlier stance that oil theft should attract capital punishment. We must address it squarely.”

Mr Mark also called on federal government to devise means of addressing the challenges confronting the nation, particularly in the areas of the economy and security.

“We must do everything possible to address squarely the social and economic needs of our people with determination and sincerity of purpose, honesty and transparency,” he said.

He challenged the lawmakers on the enormous task involved in considering the report of the committee on the review of the 1999 constitution, consideration and passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), Pension Reform Act (Amendment) Bill, among others appealed to them to brace up to provide more legislative frame work that accelerate the stemming of the menace in the country.

Mr Mark said in view of the importance of oil to the survival of the nation, lawmakers should imbibe the spirit of devotion, commitment, sacrifice and statesmanship.

He stressed that at the moment, the nation calls for bipartisan approaches to issues, ones that require rising above parochial considerations during deliberations on sensitive issues and the critical Bills before the upper chamber.