Everyone Is Involved In Crude Oil Theft – Says NNPCL MD, Mele Kyari

Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), expressed deep concern over the nation’s rampant crude oil theft during an oversight function led by the House of Representatives Special Committee on Oil Theft. Kyari revealed startling figures, indicating 9000 infractions on NNPCL pipelines within a single year, with 6,465 illegal refineries shut down between 2022 and the present. Additionally, out of 5,570 illegal connections detected, 4,876 have been dismantled, although Kyari cast doubt on whether this accounted for the full extent of illegal connections.

Kyari underscored the pervasive nature of crude oil theft, describing it as an issue spanning the entirety of Nigeria. He remarked, “Crude oil theft is almost an end-to-end issue in Nigeria; it is very obvious that everyone is involved.” He noted the proximity of these illegal activities to settlements and local government headquarters, highlighting the brazenness of the perpetrators.

The NNPC boss emphasized the criticality of security, outlining measures taken to combat pipeline vandalism, including the consolidation of security agencies and private security firms under a unified platform. Despite Nigeria’s oil production capacity exceeding 2 million barrels per day, Kyari lamented the struggle to meet the budget estimate of 1.6 million barrels per day, attributing this shortfall partly to crude oil theft.

Rep. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, Chairman of the Special Committee, echoed Kyari’s concerns, citing the immense challenges faced in safeguarding oil and gas pipelines. Ado-Doguwa highlighted frequent infractions and damages to pipelines, as well as breaches at oil well heads, flow stations, and export terminals. He raised alarms regarding regulatory transparency and official complicity in crude theft-related activities at Nigeria’s export terminals.

The narrative underscores the pervasive and damaging impact of crude oil theft in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta region. Addressing this issue requires concerted efforts from both governmental and regulatory bodies to ensure the integrity and security of Nigeria’s oil infrastructure.

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