Oil Theft: NNPC Dismantles Over 8,000 Illegal Refineries, 5,800 Pipelines in Six Months 

Samuel Mobolaji

The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has reported the detection and destruction of over 8,000 illegal refineries and 5,800 illegal pipelines within just six months across the country.

During a ‘Stakeholders Engagement Session’ with National Assembly journalists in Abuja, Murtala Muhammad, Deputy Manager of the NNPC Command and Control Centre, highlighted the ongoing issue of oil theft, particularly prevalent in Bayelsa, Rivers, Imo, and Abia States.

The Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, underscored the company’s capability to boost crude oil production from 1.7 million barrels per day to 3 million.

However, he stressed that achieving this target necessitates collaboration from all stakeholders, including security agencies, government bodies, privately-owned oil companies, and host communities.

Soneye noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directives to relevant security agencies have already yielded positive results, with daily oil production rising from 1.4 million to 1.7 million barrels.

He emphasised the importance of stakeholder synergy in combating oil theft and pipeline vandalism, stating that it would create an enabling environment for optimal oil production of 2.5 to 3 million barrels per day.

Previously, oil production had plummeted to 900,000 barrels per day before private security interventions and military involvement. Soneye expressed optimism that intensified efforts against oil theft have alleviated many concerns.

In a related discussion, resource person Prof. Taiye Obateru stressed the importance of balanced and fair reporting in nation-building, urging journalists to avoid spreading misinformation that could trigger societal crises.

He cautioned journalists to reject mal information, which can manifest through fabricated content, falsehoods, satire, and parody.