Oil Theft: How NNPCL, security operatives destroy barge, filling station with stolen crude

*Nigeria’s crude production has reportedly dropped to about 1.1 million barrels per day (bpd) as a result of oil theft menace and shutting of some vulnerable pipelines in the West African country

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In the Federal Government’s renewed offensive against the seemingly ceaseless  menace, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), in collaboration with a private security contractor and government security agencies, has destroyed a barge loaded with stolen crude oil in Delta State.

ConsumerConnect reports  the NNPC in a statement issued at the weekend, said that the team also demolished a filling station in Warri, Delta State, for storing stolen crude oil.

Security operatives monitoring the demolition of the erring petrol station storing stolen crude oil     Photo: Daily Trust

The state oil company noted that the barge was destroyed Saturday, but it had arrested the facility since December 22, 2022, along with some suspects.

The statement also said: “The barge named MT Brighton 1, loaded with stolen crude, was apprehended in one of the creeks running into the Ramos River in Agge Community, a border area between Delta and Bayelsa States.”

Prior to the exercise, Nigeria’s crude production had dropped to about 1.1 million barrels per day due to oil thieves and the shutting of some vulnerable pipelines in the country.

The situation in the country’s oil and gas sector, however, improved and attained 1.5m bpd December 2022, according to NNPC Limited.