Mr. Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Ltd., revealed that the corporation recorded 9,000 infractions on its pipelines in the span of one year.
Kyari disclosed this during an oversight function of the House of Representatives Special Committee on Oil Theft, conducted at the NNPC Ltd. headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
He highlighted the extensive efforts undertaken by NNPC to address the issue of illegal activities, stating, “From 2022 to date, we have deactivated 6,465 illegal refineries and removed 4,876 illegal connections to pipelines out of 5,570 discovered.”
However, Kyari expressed concern about the persistent challenges posed by pipeline vandalism and oil theft, noting that despite efforts to remove illegal connections, new ones often appear shortly afterward.
He emphasized the widespread nature of the problem, stating, “It is obvious that crude oil theft is almost an end-to-end issue in Nigeria; it is very obvious that everyone is involved.”
Kyari highlighted the audacious nature of the perpetrators, with illegal activities occurring in close proximity to settlements and government offices.
He underscored the critical importance of addressing security concerns to safeguard Nigeria’s oil infrastructure, emphasizing the need for a unified approach involving all security agencies and private security firms.
In response to the challenges, Rep. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, Chairman of the Special Committee, acknowledged the complexity of operating oil and gas pipelines in Nigeria. He lamented the prevalence of infractions, including breaches at oil wellheads, flow stations, loading terminals, and export facilities.
Ado-Doguwa expressed concerns about the lack of transparency in regulatory activities and instances of official complicity in crude oil theft.
He concluded by reaffirming Nigeria’s determination to combat crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, particularly in the Niger Delta region, through concerted efforts and enhanced regulatory measures.
