The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has revealed that crude oil theft in Nigeria is being perpetrated with the active involvement of international syndicates.
Speaking at an industry stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Monday, Kyari said the scale and sophistication of oil theft in the country go beyond local vandalism, stressing that the menace is supported by networks with global reach.
“Crude oil theft in Nigeria is not just the handiwork of artisanal criminals. It is an organized crime sustained by international cartels who have the technology, the market access, and the financial muscle to facilitate it,” the NNPCL boss said.
He explained that stolen crude is often laundered through complex supply chains and sold on the international black market, making it difficult for Nigerian authorities alone to curb the problem.
Kyari noted that the company, in collaboration with security agencies, has intensified efforts to dismantle illegal refineries, intercept vessels, and shut down unauthorized loading points. He added that technological surveillance systems have been deployed across major pipelines to detect breaches in real time.
“The good news is that our efforts are yielding results. Daily crude production is improving, and we have been able to recover several illegal connections on pipelines that were previously undetected,” he said.
The NNPCL boss called for stronger international collaboration, urging foreign governments and multilateral institutions to assist Nigeria in tracking illicit crude shipments and prosecuting offenders abroad.
He also appealed to host communities to support government efforts by exposing criminal networks operating in their areas, stressing that oil theft not only undermines Nigeria’s economy but also fuels insecurity in the Niger Delta.
Kyari reassured Nigerians that the NNPCL remains committed to protecting national resources and restoring the country’s oil production to optimal levels.
