The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has said that 63 illegal refineries and 19 illegal pipelines connections were discovered in Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers and Imo states within one week.
It explained that a total of 177 cases were reported by several incidence sources.
According to it, Tantita Security Services reported four incidences; Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), 11; Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, (PINL) 26; Maton Engineering Company, 20; NNPC 18 operating Ltd, 1; NNPC Command and Control Centre, 51 and Government security agencies (GSAs) 64.
These were contained in video posted on the X handle of the NNPC Ltd on Tuesday.
It said: “In the past week, 19 illegal pipelines connections were recovered while some underwent repairs, across several locations in Bayelsa and River State. 63 illegal refineries discovered and confiscated in Olobiri in Bayelsa State, Tombe III, Okakiri, and two other locations in in Rivers State, Obuzo in Abia State, Ohaji Egbema in Imo State and Ogudu Omadigbo in Delta State.
Also a vandalized, barricaded oil well head was discoveredin Tailo creel Bayelsa State, Stolen crude was also discovered in an oil reservoirs in TomboIII, IV and Alesa in River State.
“17 vehicular arrests were made in some areas in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers State and Akwa Ibom State.
“On water, 15 wooden boats conveying stolen crude were seized and confiscated in Rivers and Bayelsa states, 51 of these incidences took place in deep blue, 21 in the Western region, 29 in the central region, 76 in the eastern region between the 3rd and 9th of August 2024 while 16 suspects arrested.”
Also, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, (NNPC Ltd.), Mr Mele Kyari, has called on the military to sustain the war against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
He stated that the current onslaught against the menace has yielded improved growth in the nation’s crude oil production.
Kyari made this appeal when he received in audience the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa who led senior military officers on a courtesy visit to the NNPC Towers in Abuja, on Tuesday, according to a statement by Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd, Olufemi Soneye.
Kyari said: “I personally call for enhanced and sustained security engagement. This is because we have reached a new peak in production that we haven’t seen in the last three years.
“This is clearly related to the sustained efforts by the armed forces and other security agencies to protect our critical assets, particularly the pipeline infrastructure in specified areas where we are working closely with these agencies.
“We are already seeing the results transforming into increased production.”
The GCEO, who commended General Musa and his team for their unwavering commitment to securing the nation’s critical hydrocarbon assets especially in the Niger Delta region in recent months, emphasized that these achievements are not only crucial to Nigeria but also to the global energy community.
He expressed confidence that the CDS and his team will deliver on the Presidential mandate to mitigate security-related challenges affecting the nation’s crude oil production.
“Components of this effort that depend on security are being effectively managed by you. Your coordinated and focused response is paving the way for improved security engagement, particularly in the Niger Delta,” he said.
General Musa, earlier in his remarks, said the visit was intended to introduce the Monitoring Team to the NNPC Ltd, which will be responsible for interfacing with the company and other stakeholders in the oil-producing regions to secure the nation’s critical hydrocarbon infrastructure.
While pledging commitment towards improving security and the performance of his troops, the CDS said the military will sustain the onslaught and analyse the troops’ capabilities to enhance their performance and bolster productivity.
He stressed the need to ramp up production for a prosperous economy and reassured collaboration with intelligence agencies, private security, state governments and host communities for enhanced performance.
“Working in silos won’t give us the best results. I want to assure you that we will collaborate with the necessary stakeholders to achieve our set targets as mandated by Mr. President,” the CDS said.
