NNPCL Discovers 34 Illegal Refineries and 17 Pipeline Connections in One Week
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has uncovered 34 illegal refineries and 17 pipeline connections in the Niger Delta region within just one week. According to a video documentary shared on its official YouTube channel on Tuesday, NNPCL revealed that these illegal activities were uncovered between November 30 and December 6 as part of its ‘War On Crude Oil Theft’ initiative, aimed at eradicating oil theft in Nigeria. The success was attributed to the collaborative efforts of NNPCL’s command and control centers, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited, OANDO PLC, New Guard Security and Consultancy Limited, and government security agencies. NNPCL reported a total of 94 oil theft incidents across Bayelsa, Rivers, and Abia states. In coordinated operations, illegal pipelines were found and dismantled in hotspots such as Ogboingbiri, Ejehinkiri, and Alabelema in Bayelsa, and Okrika 7 in Rivers. Additionally, illicit refineries were destroyed in Ebocha, Umuajuloke, Okrika 7, Kumkum (Rivers), and Ukwa, Uzuaku, Oza West, Odogwa, Obuzor, Oandu (Abia), as well as Bizeni (Bayelsa). NNPCL also uncovered a large illegal storage site in Okrika 7, where crude oil was found stored in sacks, ready for the black market. A total of 19 suspects were arrested and handed over to security agencies for further investigation.
