NNPC’s policing of the Nigerian oil pipelines has been a big hit, as illegal refineries have continuously been uncovered and oil thieves routed at regular intervals. Our team of REPORTERS dug deeper into this historic feat by the NNPCLtd management
By Our Reporters
When the GCEO of NNPCLtd, Malam Mele Kyari drew the world’s attention to the dimension of oil thievery in the country at a recent function in Nigeria, he left many in shock. He said some illegal refineries that were discovered. ” I can tell you that on one line, just less than 200kilometres we had 295 illegal connections’, Kyari disclosed. He explained that the loss accruable from this makes it impossible for any oil company to operate under such a circumstance. Secondly, he said, when there was fire outbreak in one of the crude oil pipelines in Lagos, the affected pipeline ls were treaceable to individual homes and shockingly, to certain Mosques and Churches.
Evidently, one regular talking point on Nigeria’s move to sanitize the oil and gas sector was applying break for unpatriotic oil thieves and crushing the gangs setting of illegal refineries. Observers are united in the view that the NNPC management, emboldened by Federal Government’s endorsement of multidimensional reforms has remained unwavering.
The latest report about NNPC’s relentless war revealed that 234 incidences of illegal connections, refineries, and a lot more were recorded in a number of oil-producing states within the Niger Delta region. And that was as recently as the period between September 9th and 15th, 2023.
NNPC itself has confirmed that the latest incidences were higher when placed against the 148 incidences of illegal connections and refineries reported between September 2nd to 8th, this year.
In the period under review, the oil giant disclosed that eight illicit pipeline connections and unlawful refineries were exposed.
Only last week, in the oil giant’s popular documentary on NTA, NNPC further revealed that some 54 illegal connections to major pipelines and 78 unlicensed refineries, were fling open, to the shock of many Nigerians, who took turns to commend the massive war against oil thieves, along with illegal refineries that were springing up at regular intervals.
According to viral media reports, the said unlicensed refineries were located in Oraji, Egbema, in Imo state; Sambari and Egorobiri in Rivers; and Obodo, Omadina in Delta.
The NNPC further disclosed that the illegal connections, which were buried underground, were attached to major pipelines.
Reports have also revealed that five cases of oil spills were recorded and three vehicles were arrested.
In another move that shook the nation, about 78 illegal refineries were destroyed in Rivers, Delta, and Bayelsa states, while 43 cases of pipeline vandalism were recorded in the past week.
Another report has it that “other incidents recorded during the week include the arrest of 42 wooden boats in Igbeno area of Akwa Ibom, Obodo Omadino in Delta, Bolo in Rivers.”
One recent report that shook the industry to its very foundation was the nine vessels’ automatic identification system (AIS) infractions were discovered.
A trending one was the discovery of 162 illegal pipeline connections and illegal refineries in the Niger Delta, mostly in Bayelsa in the past week.
Indeed a comparatively more revealing documentary by the oil company shared via its social media ‘X’ handle, the NNPCL said 93 illegal pipeline connections and 69 illegal refineries were discovered from Aboa and Gbokoda between July 15th and 21st, and had been destroyed.
Is the GCEO of NNPC Vindicated?
When in November 2022, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the NNPCLtd, Malam Mele Kyari alleged a threat to his life over his role in curtailing the theft of oil running into trillions of Naira, few Nigerians understood the import of his alarm. But analysts believe that recent reform actions of the oil firm have confirmed the worst fears of oil thieves. Observers believe that the oil thieves and their collaborators in the system hoped that by threatening GCEO Kyari they would have a field day feeding fat on Nigeria’s stolen oil and gas resources. The reformist agenda of Kyari was to them a major stumbling block. Some.observers insisted that the threat was designed to discourage Kyari from proceeding with the reforms.
Between NNPC management and thieving unlicensed refineries owners
The oil thieves look set to lose out soon. To most analysts of latest happenings in the oil and gas sector, the NNPCLtd’s management is having the last laugh, as the threat against the GCEO seemed to have totally failed to dissuade the management of the oil giant from abandoning the ongoing reforms; reforms that saw to the successful policing of the Nigerian oil pipelines, and crackdown on persons that were, before now, thought to be untouchable in the criminal gangs and syndicates of the industry. Analysts believe that the NNPCLtd’s management has set the tone for returning the lost glory of the Nigerian oil sector by repelling persons whiskey considered unpatriotic magnets of economic sabotage against a national economy struggling to stay afloat.
