Increasing crude oil production output which provides over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s revenue has continued to elude the country due to theft.


Oil theft in Nigeria has been a long-standing issue, with billions of dollars worth of crude oil stolen from pipelines and infrastructure every year. The theft, often carried out by criminal syndicates, has devastating effects on the country’s economy and environment.

In the latest update on Tuesday, the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) said a total of 226 incidents of crude oil theft were recorded in Niger Delta between 18 and 24 November 2023. The national oil company said 39 illegal pipeline connections and 77 illegal refineries were uncovered and destroyed in the region which includes the following states, Rivers, Delta, Abia, Bayelsa, and Imo in the past week.

It also added that 21 cases of oil pipeline vandalism were recorded in Delta and Rivers State where a boat fills with crude from a vandalised wellhead. Five cases of oil spills were also recorded in the past week while illegal storage sites were discovered in Rivers, Delta, Abia and Bayelsa States.

“Pipeline vandalism remained a persistent challenge, with 21 incidents detected in Rivers and Delta states. Security forces also intercepted nine vessels engaged in AIS (Automatic Identification System) infractions and apprehended 55 wooden boats transporting stolen crude in Delta State.”

Last week the Chief Executive Officer, NNPCL, Mele Kyari had during the weekly series tagged “Energy and You” aired on NTA, revealed that over 5,000 kilometers of oil pipelines were destroyed by vandals, with the country recording 172 crude oil theft incidents across different states between 11th to 17th of November.

To read more, click on the link below:
https://www.primebusiness.africa/oil-theft-continues-to-frustrate-nigerias-efforts-to-ramp-up-production/

Nigeria is dead without crude oil!