Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan has disclosed that his government is considering using electronic surveillance methods to tackle the problem of massive oil theft in the country.

President Jonathan, represented by Nigeria’s President of the Senate, David Mark, said this was part of measures government has been exploring to curb the problem, which was particularly rife in the Niger Delta.

Nigeria oil theft losses amount to an estimated $6 billion annually.

“Government is exploring the possibility of using electronic pipeline surveillance to track down oil theft,” Jonathan said in a statement that Mark read at an oil and gas investment forum in Onne, Port Harcourt in the Rivers State.

Although the president did not disclose if any contract had been awarded for the electronic surveillance or when the new approach could begin, he did however say that relevant regulatory agencies have been working ‘around the clock’ to combat the challenge.