By Ologeh Joseph Chibu
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has revealed that illegal pipelines have been discovered in sensitive mosques, churches and traditional palaces.
During a Stakeholders Engagement Session on Saturday with the National Assembly Press Corps in Abuja, Olufemi Soneye, discussed the scale of the issue.
NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Soneye noted that some illegal oil pipelines have been traced to sacred sites, including religious institutions and royal palaces. This, he said, further complicates efforts to control the situation.
“Some of these pipelines lead into churches, mosques, and even the palaces of kings,” he explained.
He emphasized that the nation faces significant challenges in the oil sector, which must be addressed to secure Nigeria’s economic future.
Soneye highlighted the underwhelming prosecution rate for oil theft crimes, describing it as a key obstacle in the fight against oil theft. He cited the case of a vessel apprehended with 23 crew members for oil theft last November, only for it to be caught again months later without meaningful legal consequences.
On prosecution challenges
Soneye stated: “The prosecution rate for oil thieves is less than two percent. With over 2,500 arrests, a two percent prosecution rate shows just how deep the problem runs.”
He said NNPCL has been compelled to hire private security firms to combat oil theft effectively, despite efforts of the military and law enforcement agencies. Soneye clarified that this decision was born out of necessity, as Nigeria’s daily crude production had fallen below 900,000 barrels at one point due to rampant theft. Engaging local communities and private security companies helped the NNPCL raise production back to around 1.7 million barrels per day.
Massive Destruction of Illegal Refineries
Murtala Muhammad, Deputy Manager of NNPCL’s Command and Control Centre, reported that over 8,000 illegal refineries had been destroyed in the past six months. He also confirmed that 5,800 illegal oil pipeline connections were discovered and dismantled within the same period, with the southern states of Bayelsa, Rivers, Imo, and Abia being identified as hotspots for oil theft.
NNPCL aims to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production from its current level of 1.7 million barrels per day to 3 million barrels, despite the ongoing challenges posed by oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
