Economic Sabotage: How security issues fuel crude theft by transnational syndicates −NNPCL

*Engr. Bayo Bashir Ojulari, Group CEO of NNPC Limited, says crude theft and its attendant illegal activities are operations that involve specialised international syndicates that take advantage of gaps within the state, national and continental security architecture to conduct illegal activities across Africa

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

Engr. Bayo Bashir Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has alleged that specialised international and continental thieving syndicates are taking advantage of security gaps to steal crude oil across the African continent.

ConsumerConnect reports Ojulari stated this Monday, August 25, 2025, at the opening of the Africa Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Conference, in Abuja, FCT.

The theme of the 2025 Africa Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Conference was, “Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaboration”.

The GCEO of NNPCL also said since crude theft has both transnational and continental dimensions, stakeholders in the oil and gas sector should tackle this menace holistically, through collaboration and synergy among various military formations on the continent.

Ojulari 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.”

Among several dignitaries, who graced the event in Abuja, are Amina Mohammed, United Nations (UN) Deputy Secretary-General; Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Malam Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser; General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS); ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray; Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahamoud Youssouf; ex-Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, Ibrahim Gambari; and Zacch Adedeji, Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and other military top brass from across the continent, as well as other key dignitaries.

NNPCL’s strides, security situation and Oil & Gas operations in Niger Delta

He, however, noted that as far as Nigeria is concerned, crude theft and pipeline vandalism, especially within the oil-rich Niger Delta region of the West African country have become old occurrences because of the intensified efforts of the Nigerian security agencies.

In regard to the NNPCL achievements, he said that the state oil company has made substantial progress in combating crude oil theft through strategic collaboration with government security agencies, which led to the company achieving near 100 percent crude oil pipeline availability in recent times.

Ojulari urged strengthened regional and continental cooperation among countries to protect resources and promote growth.

The GCEO further affirmed the company’s “commitment to working with military and intelligence agencies in the country and looks forward to broader frameworks emerging from the summit to support Africa’s energy security and shared prosperity.”

The NNPCL Chief further stated: “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.

“We have seen the benefit of the collaboration within the energy space, with significant improvement in our operating environment.”

In terms of considerable security improvement in the sector, Ojulari said: “The dilapidating impact of crude theft, low pipeline availability and attacks are issues that have become stories of the past for us.

“These have come from the immense and intentional efforts of our government agencies across the nation and, in particular, within the Niger Delta.

“Today, I can proudly report to you all that our pipelines and terminals’ receipt of crude oil, which was somewhere as low as 20% to 30%, we are attaining close to 100% due to the support of the security forces and the intelligence agencies.”

The NNPCL GCEO, therefore, advocated continental forums, such as the gathering for the conference, should be encouraged to strengthen strategic activities against crude theft and other illegal activities on the African continent.