Tinubu Orders Crackdown on Oil Theft in Niger Delta, Says NNPC Chief
Abuja, Nigeria – The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mallam Mele Kyari, has announced that President Bola Tinubu has directed the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to tackle the persistent issues of oil theft and vandalism in the Niger Delta region.
Addressing journalists at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, Kyari emphasized that the rising incidence of oil theft has escalated into a national crisis, severely hampering the country’s oil production capabilities. He highlighted the critical need for coordinated efforts among all security and intelligence agencies to address the situation urgently.
“We are here to engage with the CDS based on the directive of the president,” Kyari stated. “The president has directed the CDS to take control of the crisis in the Niger Delta operational area. Oil theft and pipeline vandalism have become a national issue, and the president has mandated the CDS to resolve this swiftly to restore national production levels.”
The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji, reported a loss of $1.84 billion worth of petroleum products from refineries over nine years due to these illegal activities.
General Musa affirmed the commitment of the armed forces to eliminate all forms of vandalism and criminal activities in the South-South region. He pledged to ensure the safety of the area to enable NNPC and other stakeholders to boost production, which is crucial for Nigeria’s economic stability.
“The truth is, the issues in the South-South have persisted for far too long. It’s high time they are stopped,” General Musa declared. “We promise Nigerians that the entire South-South will be cleared of any acts of vandalism or criminality. The President has given us a mandate to secure the region and enable improved production.”
He called for cooperation from host communities, urging them to trust and support the security agencies in their efforts to safeguard the area. “We need the communities to understand that pipeline vandalism and its hazards also directly affect them. Everyone has a role to play,” Musa added.
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Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun also assured that all necessary steps would be taken to curb oil theft and vandalism in the Niger Delta region. “We must all come together to solve these challenges. The cooperation of all agencies and citizens is essential. I assure you that in the days ahead, you will see results,” Egbetokun stated.
With a unified strategy and the President’s mandate, security agencies are optimistic about seeing tangible results within the next few months. General Musa concluded, “We’re going to work together as a team. All operations will be harmonized, and within the next two to three months, you will see results coming in.”
