The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has made massive strides in its ongoing battle against crude oil theft and illegal refining activities in the Niger Delta region. In a concerted effort to curb these illicit operations, NNPCL uncovered 34 illegal refineries and 17 unauthorized pipeline connections over a one-week period from November 30 to December 6, 2024.
This discovery was part of a series of coordinated operations aimed at dismantling the infrastructure that supports oil theft, which has long plagued Nigeria's oil industry.
The operations were carried out with the collaboration of several key partners, including Shell Petroleum Development Company, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited, OANDO PLC, New Guard Security and Consultancy Limited, and various government security agencies. These joint efforts signifies the importance of multi-stakeholder cooperation in addressing the complex challenges posed by illegal oil activities.
In a video documentary released on NNPCL's official YouTube channel, the company highlighted the success of these operations, attributing it to the robust command and control centers established to monitor and respond to illegal activities swiftly.
The documentary also showcased the geographical scope of the crackdown, which spanned across the central, eastern, and western corridors of the Niger Delta region, as well as deep blue waters.
During the operations, NNPCL reported a total of 94 oil theft incidents in Bayelsa, Rivers, and Abia States. Key hotspots such as Ogboingbiri, Ejehinkiri, and Alabelema in Bayelsa State, along with Okrika 7 in Rivers State, were identified and targeted for swift action.
Illegal pipelines discovered in these areas were promptly dismantled, and repairs were carried out to restore the affected pipelines to full functionality, thereby strengthening Nigeria's hydrocarbon infrastructure.
The destruction of illegal refineries was not limited to the Niger Delta's waterways. On land, sites in locations like Ebocha, Umuajuloke community, Kumkum, and Okrika 7 in Rivers State, as well as Ukwa, Uzuaku, Oza West, Odogwa, Obuzor, and Oandu in Abia State, were also targeted.
A major illegal crude oil storage site was uncovered in Okrika 7, where officials found crude oil stored in sacks intended for the black market. Other illegal storage sites were dismantled in Igi 3, Ibudiya 1, and Eborcha.
The operations led to the apprehension of 19 suspects, who were handed over to government security agencies for further investigation. This underscores the NNPCL's commitment to not only dismantling illegal infrastructure but also ensuring that those responsible for these activities are brought to justice.
The broader context of these operations is the ongoing struggle against crude oil theft, which continues to cost Nigeria billions of dollars annually. Between August and September 2024 alone, NNPCL uncovered 269 illegal refineries and dismantled 82 illegal pipeline connections.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, reported that Nigeria lost N16.25 trillion to oil theft between 2009 and 2020, with an estimated loss of N2.3 trillion in 2023 alone.
To combat this issue, the Nigerian Army launched 'Operation Delta Safe' last year, aiming to tackle oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta. This operation, alongside NNPCL's efforts, represents a comprehensive approach to securing Nigeria's oil resources and ensuring the country's energy security.
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