Dare Olawin reports for Punch Newspaper that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has disclosed 188 incidents of oil theft in one week, from August 24 to 30. The incidents were recorded across several locations in the Niger Delta, with 89 illegal refineries located and dismantled. Illegal connections were uncovered in Bayelsa, Abia, and Rivers States, and crude oil spills occurred due to these connections.
The NNPC also reported that illegal storage sites were discovered in Abia, and vandalism incidents were noted. A boat carrying metals from vandalized oil wellheads was accosted in Rivers. On land, trucks and vehicles carrying stolen crude oil were seized in Delta State, and wooden boats conveying stolen crude oil were intercepted in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Akwa-Ibom States.
The NNPC arrested 31 suspected oil thieves and handed them over to government security agents for further investigations. The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Mele Kyari, has lamented the spate of oil theft, describing it as the most humongous and virulent economic crime in Nigeria. He emphasized the need for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s attention, stating that the volume of oil stolen daily and the arrogance of the perpetrators require urgent action.
Kyari noted that 4,846 illegal pipes connected to NNPC pipelines have been disconnected, out of 5,543 such illegal connection points. He expressed sadness that despite efforts to remove illegal connections, new ones emerge, highlighting the complexity of the issue. The NNPC boss emphasized that this level of oil theft is unparalleled globally, requiring a concerted effort to address.
