Following the incessant illegal oil bunkering in Nigeria’s oil sector, which has witnessed an upsurge in recent times, the Royal Dutch Shell has accused the Nigerian security forces of aiding oil thieves and profiting from such a deal.

The company, which alleged further that the country lost $1bn monthly to the illegal operations, also disclosed that it was planning to sell four of its onshore oil blocks in the country.

The company said that its decision to sell off the blocks was informed by governmental failure to checkmate bunkering in the Niger Delta as well as the relentlessness of the bunkerers who steal an average of 100,000 barrels of crude per day.

Due to bunkering, oil production in the country has dropped to 400,000 barrels per day instead of 2.5 million bpd capacity level.

According to a report obtained by Sunday Tribune, the constant theft of large volumes of oil from the company’s numerous pipelines is allegedly aided by politicians, security forces, oil industry personnel and traders as well as other miscreants who hibernate at creeks and swamps in the Niger Delta to bilk the nation to the tune of about $1 billion each month.

The company, which pioneered Nigeria’s oil business from Oloibiri oil field in 1958, has also closed down its Trans-Niger pipeline that used to pump about 150,000 bpd oil to the giant refinery at Bonney, because the pipeline was holed at different points by oil thieves.

The report posted by John Domovan blamed the act on lack of political will from the Federal Government and various state governments, where oil was being explored, and government’s failure to checkmate activities of oil thieves, saying it has further emboldened the bunkerers who use their local and international connections to steal crude from pipelines.

According to Shell’s head of communication, Philip Mshelbila, “there is a sophisticated organisation…” that specialises in oil bunkering in the Niger Delta, saying their operation is “clearly not just local,” but “a wide network” of criminals who make money from the illegal activity.

A statement credited to the company also confirmed that there was little or no measure put in place by government to end the illegal activity, as those who were supposed to protect pipelines in the country aided bunkering.


It will be recalled that a recent report by the Royal Institute for International Affairs similarly revealed that Nigeria’s oil was being stolen not just from pipelines, but also from tank farms, export terminals, refinery storage, ports and even wellheads.

“Officials and private actors disguise theft through manipulation of meters and shipping documents. Proceeds are laundered through world financial centres and used to buy assets in and outside Nigeria, polluting markets and financial institutions overseas, and creating reputational, political and legal hazards,” the report added.

Reacting to the story, the Director, Defence Information, Brig. General Chris Olukolade, said that it was a subtle blackmail and that anyone with real evidence against the JTF should forward such to the appropriate authority for investigation and action.

According to him, the JTF is carrying out its mandate successfully by checking and curtailing illegalities in the creeks and cannot turn around and be doing other things.

He said the military welcomed proof of such allegations, stressing that if such complaints were received, Nigerians would see what happened next.

http://tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/component/k2/item/24337-how-military,-police-aid-oil-thieves-shell-•says-nigeria-loses-$1bn-monthly-•it’s-a-subtle-blackmail-military.html

Nigeria is a country founded in deceit, how do you expect a country with such foundation to progress?

Na so...even d security agencies naw aid crime..Corruption z d motto..Despt oua oil,d prices of petroleume products re nt static alwax inflating !!God help Nigeria!!

confusion247: Nigeria is a country founded in deceit, how do you expect a country with such foundation to progress?

mr confused man, stop this your 'national anthem' and try to talk sense!

How is ur statement a worthy reason as to why govt, politician, law enforcers all abet this crime?

Think!!! Sorry, how can u even think without a brain?

No need to look far for the oil thieves, the leader of the gang resides in aso rock as the president of naija. Just dis knowledge is demoralising on its own

Pukkah:

A statement credited to the company also confirmed that there was little or no measure put in place by government to end the illegal activity, as those who were supposed to protect pipelines in the country aided bunkering.

This is unbelievable and seems to confirm the worst of thoughts.

What is going on is a massive and unprecedented sleaze in the annals of history.

It is unlikely that this kind of eye-popping theft, which has led to a reduction in daily production from of about 400,000bpd , can go on for so long unaided and unassisted by the people who have been entrusted to keep a watch on the product.

Fresh air....

As the Idiots will say - it is our oil money we are taking - yet his or her kids cant afford a meal or go to school, His father is dying at the hospital( that was not funded by the so called oil bunnkers) because of toxic fumes. Acidic rain bastardize their crops and Oil spill kills all fishery

blacksta: As the Idiots will say - it is our oil money we are taking - yet his or her kids cant afford a meal or go to school, His father is dying at the hospital( that was not funded by the so called oil bunnkers) because of toxic fumes. Acidic rain bastardize their crops and Oil spill kills all fishery

on point sir.. They just don't know whatsup..

blacksta: As the Idiots will say - it is our oil money we are taking - yet his or her kids cant afford a meal or go to school, His father is dying at the hospital( that was not funded by the so called oil bunnkers) because of toxic fumes. Acidic rain bastardize their crops and Oil spill kills all fishery

Thank you.

The oil theft is an ill wind that blows nobody (except the thieves) any good.

*sigh..

Pukkah:

This is unbelievable and seems to confirm the worst of thoughts.

What is going on is a massive and unprecedented sleaze in the annals of history.

It is unlikely that this kind of eye-popping theft, which has led to a reduction in daily production from 2.5million bpd to 400,000bpd (a theft of 2.1million bpd ) , can go on for so long unaided and unassisted by the people who have been entrusted to keep a watch on the product.

I think that was a typo and they meant to say production has been reduced "by" 400,000bpd and not "to" 400,000bpd.

But regardless, this regime is a complete disaster!! After all the security contracts and what not given to those rogues... Smh. I'm even suspecting the Tompolo contract was given to provide security to bunkerers and a secure route for arms shipment into the niger delta!!

^^^^Thanks. True.

The organs of the government are corrupt, the system is decayed too and organ transplant is not feasible for now. But it's imperative we keep voicing our discontent until our voices are heard and the changes becomes defined.

they don't just aid it, they join are also involved in bunkering

emmysenior: The organs of the government are corrupt, the system is decayed too and organ transplant is not feasible for now. But it's imperative we keep voicing our discontent until our voices are heard and the changes becomes defined.

Unfortunately, the only plausible option now is to keep voicing it out.

The people have not been able to unseat any government. Any revolt dies by bullets from the guns of tribe and religion.

The thieving elite know this and so are not worried. They try to out-compete one another in stealing and looting. The story is the same all over. There appears to be no exception when you go to the states or parastatals.

Nigeria is a waste of time and space

Shell leave the money and employ Nigerian graduates. Haba