The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited revealed that, in the past week, it has discovered a total of 83 illegal refineries in the Niger Delta region.
The NNPCL made this revelation on Tuesday via its official handle, disclosing the unearthing of 83 illegal refineries and 15 illegal pipeline connections within the same period.
‘In the past week, 15 illegal pipeline connections and 83 illegal refineries have been uncovered in the Niger Delta,’ the NNPCL said.
According to a video shared with the post, it was disclosed that between January 6 and 12, a total of 211 incidents of oil theft and vandalism were reported.
Seven cases of vandalism were recorded including a wellhead in the Umuajuloke community in Rivers State.
In Owerri, it was said that an active wellhead was found with several illegal connections.
It was also learnt that nine cases of oil spills were recorded in the week, mostly caused by vandalism, adding that Ogboinbiri in Bayelsa State has been ruined by oil spills.
’83 illegal connections were spotted in Rivers, Abia, Imo and Bayelsa States.’
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‘In Abia, a drone shot showed pockets of illegal refineries in Owaza, while illegal oil connections were discovered in Olodiama, Bayelsa State and Obuzor in Abia State,’ the NNPCL informed.
Five illegal oil storage sites were reportedly found in Central Boma and Cocoa Camp in Bayelsa State, while sacks of crude oil were found in Iba Rivers State and the contents confiscated.
Also, 60 wooden and fibre boats were said to have been apprehended in Akwa Ibom, Delta State, and Rivers State.
Eight of these incidents reportedly took place in the deep blue water, 54 in the Western Region, 81 in the Central region and 68 in the Eastern region.
The NPPCL reported that, up to this point, 22 suspects have been apprehended in connection with these incidents.
No less than 157 instances of crude oil theft were recorded in the Niger Delta between December 30, 2023, and January 5, 2024.
According to the NNPCL, the cases were documented from multiple sources, encompassing Nigeria Agip Oil, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, Maton Engineering Limited, Tantita Security Services Limited, NNPCL Command and Control Centre, Shell Petroleum Development Company, and government security agencies.
While the NNPCL emphasizes its zero-tolerance approach to crude oil theft, there is a persistent lack of deterrence evident in the actions of oil thieves.
The Federal Government disclosed that over N4.3 trillion worth of crude oil was stolen in 7,143 cases of pipeline vandalism within a span of five years.