A delegation sent by President Bola Tinubu to be deployed in the Niger Delta to assess the oil theft situation in the Niger Delta discovered an illegal oil connection on Saturday.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) said on Sunday that Nigeria loses an average of 7.2 million dollars per month due to the illegal oil connection discovered at Owaza in Abia.
The team also said that the combined effects of clandestine refineries, illegal bunkering operations, and environmental devastation have led to severe economic losses for the country.
The delegation, led by the Minister of Defence, Malam Muhammed Badaru, has service chiefs, and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri as members.
Other members are the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperipe Ekpo, the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd., Malam Mele Kyari.
Also in the team are Commander of “Operation Delta Safe’’, Rear Adm. Olusegun Ferreira, operatives of security agencies and chief executive officers of regulatory agencies in the oil and gas sector.
The team inspected the Trans-Niger Pipeline Right of Way in Owaza, Abia, where they saw a dismantled illegal connections.
“We are ready to do whatever it takes for a peaceful Niger-Delta. Cease and desist from crude oil theft and economic sabotage,’’ Malam Badaru advised at the site.
Kyari said that while oil theft in vessels can be tracked, oil-bearing communities must play a vital role in preventing oil theft within their communities.
“Oil theft is one of the reasons why Nigeria cannot meet her OPEC daily production quota,’’ he said.
Patrick Godwin, the Chief Security Officer of Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd., also said that some arrests had been made and the culprits had been arraigned.
In his words, Ribadu hails the security agencies, community security contractors, and NNPC Ltd. for stepping up the fight against oil theft and economic sabotage.
“The environment and livelihoods are being destroyed while the federation is deprived of revenue capable of shoring up the economy and strengthening the Naira,’’ he said.