Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), asserted that everyone is implicated in crude oil theft within Nigeria.
Speaking during an oversight function with the House of Representatives Special Committee on Oil Theft, Kyari revealed a staggering 9000 infractions on NNPCL pipelines in just one year.
He detailed the deactivation of 6,465 illegal refineries and the removal of 4,876 illegal connections to pipelines out of 5,570 discovered.
Kyari emphasized the widespread nature of crude oil theft, noting that it occurs almost end-to-end in Nigeria, with locations often in close proximity to settlements and government offices.
Despite the NNPCL's efforts, security challenges persist, impacting the nation's oil production and raising concerns about meeting production targets.
Chairman of the Special Committee, Rep. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, echoed the challenges faced in operating oil and gas pipelines, citing weekly infractions and the alarming opacity of regulatory activities at crude oil export terminals.
The narrative sheds light on the herculean task of tackling crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, primarily within the Niger Delta region, revealing a complex web of challenges facing Nigeria's oil sector.
