The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has revealed the discovery of 179 crude oil theft incidents across the Niger Delta region in a single week.
According to the NNPCL, these cases were recorded between January 11 and 17, 2025, as part of an ongoing collaborative effort with industry stakeholders and government security agencies to combat crude oil theft and safeguard hydrocarbon infrastructure.
In a video released by the company, the incidents included 29 illegal pipeline connections and 55 illegal refineries discovered during the period. The NNPCL credited the success of these findings to its Command and Control Centre, working in synergy with Tantita Security Agency, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Liquefied Natural Gas, Oando PLC, and security forces.
The report also detailed significant achievements in Bayelsa and Abia States, where illegal pipeline connections were detected and repaired. Similarly, operations in Rivers and Abia States led to the dismantling of illicit refineries producing black-market petroleum products. Hidden storage sites used for illegal activities were also uncovered and destroyed in Rivers and other areas of Abia State.
“Unfortunately, acts of sabotage during the week resulted in several oil spills, including a vandalized condensate pipeline and damaged wellheads in Rivers State,” the NNPCL stated.
On land and waterways, security operatives intercepted vehicles and wooden fibre boats transporting stolen crude oil in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Abia States. The incidents were categorized across various corridors: 90 in the Central Corridor, 70 in the Eastern Corridor, five in the Western Corridor, and 14 in Deep Blue Water.
In total, 30 suspects were arrested and handed over to law enforcement agencies for further investigation.
The NNPCL reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating crude oil theft, emphasizing its determination to combat the menace.
This report comes amid a growing surge in oil theft cases. Earlier in January, 128 illegal refineries were uncovered within two weeks. Between January 4 and 10, security forces reported the discovery of 53 illegal pipeline connections and 73 illegal refineries across the Niger Delta region.
The NNPCL’s proactive measures underscore the scale of the challenges posed by oil theft and the continuous efforts required to address them.