The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bashir Ojulari, said on Monday that international and continental criminal gangs exploit security gaps to steal crude oil across Africa.
Speaking at the opening of the Africa Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference in Abuja, Ojulari stressed that crude theft has both continental and global dimensions and requires joint military collaboration across Africa to combat effectively.
“Crude theft and related crimes are not localised incidents. These operations involve highly organised international syndicates exploiting weaknesses in national and continental security structures,” he told defence chiefs from across the continent.
Ojulari praised Nigerian security forces for reducing crude theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta, describing such crimes as “now issues of the past.”
“Security remains a crucial pillar of the energy industry, vital to achieving national, regional and continental energy goals,” he said.
The NNPCL boss noted that pipeline and terminal receipts of crude, previously as low as 20–30 per cent, now approach 100 per cent due to security and intelligence support.
He urged African states to strengthen forums such as the Abuja conference to bolster strategic collaboration in the energy and security sectors.
Dignitaries at the event included UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed; Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu; National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa; ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray; AU Commission Chairperson Mahamoud Youssouf; former UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari; and FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji.