The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has reported a significant crackdown on oil theft, seizing 63 illegal refineries in just one week. This operation was part of a broader effort to combat the rampant theft that has been affecting Nigeria’s oil industry.
According to NNPC’s weekly program “Energy and YOU,” the seizures were made across several states. Specifically, the company identified and confiscated 63 illicit refineries in Rivers, Abia, Imo, and Delta States. In addition to these refineries, NNPC discovered a vandalized oil wellhead in Bayelsa State, which had been barricaded.
The crackdown also led to the arrest of 17 vehicles in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States, where stolen crude oil was found in oil reservoirs. Furthermore, 15 wooden boats involved in transporting stolen oil were seized in Rivers and Bayelsa States. The majority of these incidents occurred in the deep blue sea, with 51 cases reported there, while 21 were in the western region, 29 in the central region, and 76 in the eastern region of Nigeria.
Over the past week, NNPC has taken 16 individuals into custody in connection with these operations. This latest series of actions highlights the ongoing challenge of oil theft in Nigeria, which has significantly impacted the country’s oil industry.
Oil theft has long been a severe issue for Nigeria. In 2023, National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu estimated that the country was losing 400,000 barrels of oil per day to theft. Former State Minister for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva reported an even higher figure, stating that Nigeria lost at least 700,000 barrels per day to thieves in 2022. This level of theft is notably higher compared to other oil-producing countries like Venezuela, Iraq, Mexico, and Malaysia.
Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, which owns Heirs Energies, commented earlier this month on the scale of the problem. He emphasized that Nigerian security services and the government should be able to identify and address the oil thieves, especially since many of these operations involve vessels navigating through Nigeria’s territorial waters. Elumelu highlighted that oil theft is not only harming the country’s revenue but also contributing to the withdrawal of foreign oil companies from Nigeria.
He noted that Nigeria produces around 42,000 barrels of crude oil daily, with theft reducing productivity by approximately 18%. This significant loss underscores the urgent need for more effective measures to combat oil theft and secure Nigeria’s oil infrastructure.
