Nigeria’s crude oil industry has long faced theft as international syndicates exploited security gaps in the Niger Delta, according to Bashir Ojulari, Group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Speaking at the Africa Chief of Defence Staff Conference in Abuja, Ojulari explained that collaboration has helped the government curb theft and ensure full remittance of crude oil receipts.
He emphasized that crude theft and related illegal activities are not purely local problems; sophisticated international groups take advantage of weaknesses in national, regional, and continental security systems to carry out their operations.
Ojulari noted that increased efforts by security agencies have significantly reduced crude theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta.
He stressed that security is a vital part of the energy sector and plays a strategic role in achieving energy security goals across the nation and the continent.
As the head of Africa’s largest national oil company, Ojulari has observed firsthand how collaboration in the energy sector improves the operating environment.
He highlighted that deliberate and sustained government efforts, particularly in the Niger Delta, have mitigated the effects of crude theft, pipeline downtime, and frequent attacks.
Ojulari proudly shared that crude oil receipts at pipelines and terminals are now approaching full capacity thanks to the support of security forces and intelligence agencies.
He added that industry-wide collaboration has drastically reduced sabotage, vandalism, illegal refineries, crude theft, illegal bunkering, and piracy.
Finally, Ojulari said initiatives like this conference aim to expand security architecture regionally and continentally, integrating tools, policies, and technologies to enable seamless cross-border cooperation.
source: dailytrust.com
African Energy Council