Oil theft and illegal processing continue in the Niger Delta region, and the Nigerian navy says it has destroyed at least 347 illegal refineries in the past five months.

Oil was stolen from the proliferation of illegal refineries, as access to oil through pipeline vandalism continued to save artificial illegal refineries, it said. During a visit to Punch Nigeria Limited, the Chief Information Officer of the Naval Headquarters, Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan said communities, traditional rulers and other leaders play an important role in changing the direction of criminals, especially the youth. He said the menace poses a serious threat to the environment and adversely affects the country's revenue. With around 400,000 barrels of crude oil stolen per day, the country's oil theft rate has been described by many individuals and organizations as economic sabotage as it affects the revenue from crude oil exports, the backbone of the country's economy. . These threats have prevented Nigeria from meeting its Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OECD) quota. The country's oil production fell from 1,083,899 bpd in July as OPEC raised the country's oil production quota from 1,799 million barrels in July 2022 to 1,826 million barrels in August. In August, it rose to 972,394 barrels per day.

With dwindling revenues due to low oil production, Nigeria has relied on frequent borrowing with a debt inventory of over N41tn, causing concern to many citizens and organisations. As Ayo-Vaughan explains: “Since Operation Dakar de Baravo began on April 1, 2022, we have destroyed 347 illegal refineries so far and have arrested 143 suspects so far. Criminals are mostly locals hired by the main culprits, and the proliferation of symbiotic exchanges of illegal exchanges often exacerbates theft. "Access to oil supply through pipeline rupture keeps illicit artisanal refineries afloat."

Meanwhile, Ayo-Vaughan added that daily theft through Nigerian waters is impossible, citing reports of 400,000 barrels of crude oil being stolen every day.

“Yes, there are cases of crude oil theft, but there is a lot of misinformation in the media, especially the electronic media. I think the conversation has moved from 400,000 barrels to 100,000 barrels. Recently, the Chairman of Agip Oil Company and Dr. Total met and spoke separately at the Naval Headquarters with Admiral Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, the Chief of the Naval Staff. At one point, reports said it was 400,000 barrels a day. But what 400,000 barrels means is a lot. I know the barrel is about 158.9 liters. So 100,000 barrels is about 15.8 million liters. This is only for 100,000 barrels. A typical tank has a capacity of 30,000 to 60,000 liters. There are no tanks larger than 80,000 liters.

“If you want to remove this amount of crude oil, there are currently no pipelines that go through the terminal. So the only places where these thefts can happen are terminals and rivers where people can handle the pipes. According to the Group Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (Mele Kyari), some people were found to be transporting oil and storing it in churches and temples. This is from a local intelligence agency.

“People transport this crude oil and supply it to illegal factories. first digit; If Nigeria loses about 100,000 barrels a day, that's about 15 million liters. Lifting this amount of oil would probably require a five-ton barge with about 3,000 seas per day. For example, 3,000 barges cannot be replaced."

He added that the Navy is not the only security agency in the spring, there are soldiers, personnel and maritime police of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Forces. A Navy spokesman said: “Does that mean all 3,000 ships keep moving for two days, a week, a month? Frankly, this is practically impossible. This is my opinion and this is the position of the Navy; Moving 3,000 bins a day to transport 100,000 barrels is practically impossible.”

Asked where the shortage could come from, he said it would be illegal refineries.

He added: “This means that what is stolen in the rivers is used to supply the local illegal refineries and the navy has been tough on the operators of these refineries. Part of what we hear about being lost or stolen is that the crude cannot be transported by pipeline to the exploration sites.

“We have a pipeline called the Trans-Niger pipeline. One of the directors of the international oil company said that when the pipeline was opened it had to be shut down for a long time because it was found that it was not released at the terminal nor was it reaching its destination. many thefts.

“This drives the will and confidence of Niger Delta political leaders to talk to their own people. In addition to the costs, the environmental impact is enormous. There are areas where 10-15 hectares of land were burned and the vegetation was destroyed."