NNPC Uncovers 34 Illegal Refineries and 17 Pipeline Connections in One Week
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has revealed that it uncovered 34 illegal refineries and 17 pipeline connections across the Niger Delta region in just one week.
In a video documentary posted on its official YouTube channel on Tuesday, the company highlighted that these discoveries were made during its ‘War on Crude Oil Theft’ operations, which took place between November 30 and December 6. This initiative is part of NNPC’s ongoing efforts to combat crude oil theft in Nigeria.
The operation was carried out in collaboration with several partners, including Shell Petroleum Development Company, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited, OANDO PLC, New Guard Security and Consultancy Limited, and various government security agencies.
NNPC also reported a total of 94 oil theft incidents in Bayelsa, Rivers, and Abia States. The coordinated operations led to the discovery and dismantling of illegal pipelines at key hotspots such as Ogboingbiri, Ejehinkiri, and Alabelema in Bayelsa, and Okrika 7 in Rivers State, where illicit setups used for oil theft were uncovered. Repairs were quickly conducted to restore the pipelines to full functionality and strengthen Nigeria’s hydrocarbon infrastructure.
The crackdown also targeted illegal refineries in various locations, including Ebocha, Umuajuloke, Okrika 7, and Kumkum in Rivers State, as well as Ukwa, Uzuaku, Oza West, Odogwa, Obuzor, Oandu in Abia State, and Bizeni in Bayelsa State. A major illegal crude oil storage site was discovered in Okrika 7, Rivers State, where crude oil was found stored in sacks, ready for the black market. Additional storage sites were uncovered in Igi 3, Ibudiya 1, Eborcha, and Ukua.
The destruction of these illegal sites was described as a stern warning that there is no safe haven for crude oil theft in Nigeria. Wooden fiber boats carrying stolen crude oil were also seized and destroyed in the waterways of Igi 4, Okoloma in Rivers State, and Ukwua in Abia State.
NNPC stated that 19 suspects were apprehended and handed over to government security agencies for further investigation. The operations spanned several key corridors in the Niger Delta, including 39 incidents in the Central Corridor, 41 in the Eastern Corridor, four in the Western Corridor, and 10 in deep blue waters.
