The deputy manager, command and control centre of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Murtala Muhammad, has disclosed that more than 8,000 illegal refineries have been destroyed within the last six months in the country.
Speaking on Saturday in Abuja during a stakeholders’ engagement session, Muhammad also said 5,800 illegal oil pipeline connections were detected and destroyed within the same period.
In a power point presentation on the menace of crude oil theft and its impact on Nigeria’s economy, Muhammad said oil theft and vandalisation of oil pipelines remained a threat to crude production in the country, listing Bayelsa, Rivers, Imo and Abia among others as the hot spots.
He said, “Over 8,000 illegal refineries and 5,800 illegal oil pipeline connections were detected and destroyed within the last six months.”
Speaking during the session, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer (CCCO) of the NNPCL, Mr Olufemi Soneye, said the production of 3 million barrels of crude oil per day was achievable up from the current 1.7million.
He said the political will in that regard was already provided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with directives to relevant security agencies to stem the tide of oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
He said, “Three million barrels oil production per day is achievable in Nigeria if all the stakeholders work in synergy for that purpose from the security agencies both government and private owned to oil companies and host communities.
“With expected synergy from all the relevant stakeholders on war against oil theft and pipeline vandalism, required enabling environment would be in place for optimal oil production to the volume of 2.5 to 3 million barrels per day.”
He recalled that oil production went down to 900,000 barrels per day in the country before the involvement of private security agencies and renewed efforts of the military.
“At that time we felt Nigeria was in trouble as far as oil theft was concerned but the intensity of war against it has allayed our fears,” he added.
