Emmanuel Ochayi
In an effort to curb crude oil theft, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has revealed a startling discovery of 83 illegal refineries and 15 illegal pipeline connections within the Niger Delta in the past week.
The NNPCL took to its official social media handle to share the disconcerting findings, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the ongoing issue.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIn a video posted on Tuesday, the company disclosed a total of 211 incidents of oil theft and vandalism reported between January 6 and 12, 2023.
In a commendable move, the Group CEO of NNPC Ltd, Mr. Mele Kyari, and Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, inspected an illegal crude oil vessel named MT Kali in Oporoza, Warri, Delta State.
The vessel, loaded with thousands of metric tonnes of crude oil, was intercepted by Tantita Security Services in collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
“All 23 crew members onboard the illegal vessel have been arrested,” stated the official X handle of NNPCL on Monday night. General Musa emphasized the military’s commitment to collaborating with national oil firms and other security agencies to halt the menace of crude oil theft, stating, “The country is bleeding, and we need all funds to develop as a nation.”
READ ALSO: Oil Theft Continues To Frustrate Nigeria’s Efforts To Ramp Up Production
This latest revelation follows the company’s disclosure a week ago, where it uncovered 52 illegal refineries and 32 illegal pipeline connections. The previous discovery led to the destruction of the illegal refineries in Abia, Imo, Rivers, and Bayelsa states.
The NNPCL documented a detailed account of oil theft incidents from various sources, with 157 incidents reported between December 30, 2023, and January 5, 2024.
Notably, the company removed and repaired illegal connections along the central corridor in the Niger Delta and unearthed seven illegal storage sites in Akwa Ibom State. These sites contained buried drums of crude oil, further underscoring the gravity of the illicit activities in the region.
In response to these findings, the NNPCL remains steadfast in its commitment to eradicating crude oil theft, with government and private security agencies collaborating to ensure the security and prosperity of the nation.
