NNPC Uncovers 55 Illegal Refineries In One Week, Lists Crude Oil Theft Hotspots

The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has intensified efforts to combat crude oil theft, uncovering 55 illegal refineries and 29 illegal pipeline connections within a single week across the Niger Delta region. This significant breakthrough was highlighted in a video documentary shared on the company’s official YouTube channel.

Key Findings: Oil Theft in the Niger Delta

Between January 11 and 17, 2025, NNPCL documented a total of 179 oil theft incidents across the Niger Delta. These operations resulted in:

Arrest of 30 suspects involved in illegal activities.
Discovery of several illegal oil installations, pipeline connections, and hidden storage sites.

NNPCL described these efforts as part of an ongoing industry-wide security collaboration aimed at protecting hydrocarbon infrastructure and eradicating crude oil theft.

Collaborative Efforts to Tackle Oil Theft

The operation was supported by several industry stakeholders and security agencies, including:

NNPCL Command and Control Centres
Shell Petroleum Development Company
Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited
Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited
OANDO PLC
Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas
Tantita Security Services
Government Security Agencies

Breakdown of Oil Theft Incidents

The 179 incidents were distributed across various corridors in the Niger Delta:

Western Corridor: 5 incidents
Central Corridor: 90 incidents
Eastern Corridor: 70 incidents
Deep Blue Waters: 14 incidents

Hotspots of Crude Oil Theft

NNPCL identified key areas where crude oil theft is most prevalent:

Rivers State: Buguma Southeast, Bile, Okoloma, and Kaotan Channel
Abia State: Obuzor and Ukwa
Bayelsa State: Various locations where suspects were intercepted and illegal proceeds seized

Dismantling Illegal Refineries and Storage Sites

Security forces dismantled illegal refineries producing black-market petroleum products and uncovered hidden storage facilities at:

Rivers State: Buguma Southeast, Okoloma, Obrikom, Ayama
Abia State: Ozaukwu

Additionally, crude oil spills caused by pipeline damage and wellhead tampering were recorded in Rivers State communities such as Nwaduloke and Buguma. Vehicles and wooden fiber boats used for transporting stolen crude were also confiscated.

Environmental and Economic Impact

Nigeria loses billions of dollars daily to crude oil theft, which also hinders the country’s oil production targets. Beyond the economic loss, oil theft contributes to severe environmental degradation through spills that pollute rivers, farmland, and marine ecosystems, endangering the livelihoods of local farmers and fishermen.

In 2024 alone, Nigeria recorded over 589 oil spills, with the majority linked to crude oil theft, according to LMSINT MEDIA.