The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bashir Ojulari, has revealed that crude oil theft across Africa is driven by specialised international and continental gangs exploiting security lapses.

Ojulari made this known on Monday at the opening of the Africa Chief of Defence Staff Conference in Abuja. According to him, oil theft is not a localised crime but a sophisticated operation requiring cross-border collaboration to tackle effectively.

He stated, “Crude theft and its attendant illegal activities are by no means a purely localised occurrence; rather, these operations involve specialised international syndicates that take advantage of gaps within the state, national and continental security architecture to conduct illegal activities.”

He declared that crude theft and pipeline vandalism, especially within the oil-rich Niger Delta area of Nigeria, have become old occurrences because of the efforts of security agencies.

He declared, “Security forms a key pillar of the energy business and therefore plays a very important and strategic role in achieving national, regional and continental energy security goals.”

Ojulari said as the head of the largest national oil company on the continent, “We have seen the benefit of the collaboration within the energy space, with significant improvement in our operating environment.”

Recent operations by the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division have led to the confiscation of over 32,000 litres of stolen petroleum products and the arrest of 69 suspects. Also, the Federal Government and international oil companies have been taking several steps to combat oil theft across the country.

The government is utilising advanced surveillance technologies, including drones and satellite imagery, to monitor oil pipelines and facilities. The military and law enforcement agencies have launched significant campaigns against illegal oil operations, dismantling numerous bunkering sites and arresting suspects.

The government is also partnering with international bodies to track and prevent the illegal sale of stolen oil on the global market. It is also involving local communities in safeguarding oil infrastructure by providing incentives and creating awareness about the negative impacts of oil theft.

The NNPC had earlier announced its partnership with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other security agencies to curb crude oil theft and petroleum products smuggling. It is also implementing the Advanced Cargo Declaration to tackle crude oil theft.

However, the fight against oil theft has been faced with many challenges, such as corruption within the oil industry and law enforcement agencies. Infrastructure limitations and rough terrain in oil-producing areas hinder effective surveillance and enforcement. Weak community engagement and lack of economic alternatives for those involved in oil theft also pose challenges.