International Syndicates Behind Oil Theft in Nigeria
Crude oil theft in Nigeria is being driven by sophisticated international syndicates exploiting security gaps across the country, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has warned.
Ojulari said organised oil theft networks that once drained billions of dollars from Nigeria’s economy have been ‘crippled,’ with crude exports now stabilising.
Speaking at the five-day African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit in Abuja on Monday, Ojulari disclosed that intensified collaboration between defence and intelligence agencies has restored confidence in the country’s pipeline network.
“Today, I can proudly report that our pipeline and terminal receipts are attaining close to 100 percent,” Ojulari announced, noting that the turnaround has restored Nigeria’s oil flow and revenue base.
Just three years ago, Nigeria’s oil sector was in crisis, with only about 30 percent of crude pumped through some pipelines making it to export terminals.
The NNPCL chief noted the rest was siphoned off by sophisticated criminal syndicates, leaving government revenues severely depleted and discouraging the much-needed investment.
Ojulari stressed that the fight against oil theft was not merely a local battle but one against ‘sophisticated international syndicates’ that had long exploited weaknesses in regional security frameworks.
The strengthened response, particularly in the oil-rich Niger Delta, has been crucial in dismantling their networks.
According to him, the gains in security are coming as Nigeria pushes to scale up its oil production, noting that national oil regulator recently projected that output could rise above 2.5 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2026, a level last achieved in 2005.
Nigeria’s production had slumped to as low as one million barrels per day (bpd) in 2016 amid militancy in the Niger Delta – before the federal government engaged private security contractors in 2021 to support national forces in protecting pipelines.
Regional security
The summit, which opened at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre on Monday, brought together defence chiefs and security experts from across Africa to deliberate on strategies for addressing insurgency, terrorism, and cross-border crimes.
Themed ‘Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional and Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaboration,’ the meeting seeks to develop new partnerships with the private sector to support national and regional security needs.
Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s chief of defence staff (CDS), underscored the importance of the gathering, noting that insurgents and criminal groups do not recognise borders in their operations.
“We must work as a team, as neighbours, to deal with these threats. This summit will help us develop strategies that can benefit us all; it is a win-win for every country involved,” he said.
He further explained that joint efforts are crucial in understanding each region’s challenges and solutions.
“It is important to come together to understand one another, because each regional bloc has its own security activities. By sharing what works and where the gaps are, we can strengthen our collective defence,” he said.
