Nigeria’s national oil company says it has almost completely stamped out crude pipeline theft following years of crippling losses.
According to NNPC Limited’s Chief Executive, Bayo Ojulari, the joint efforts of defence and intelligence units have restored confidence in the country’s petroleum network. Speaking at a regional security forum in Abuja, he noted that receipts from pipelines and terminals are now “close to 100%”—a dramatic turnaround from three years ago when less than a third of oil shipments survived sabotage and theft.
The transformation is most evident in the Niger Delta, long the epicenter of oil-related criminal activity. Officials say the crackdown has dismantled not just local gangs, but also international cartels that exploited weak security frameworks across the region.
The rebound comes at a critical moment for Africa’s top producer. Nigeria is pushing for fresh oil project approvals, and regulators now project production could climb above 2.5 million barrels per day next year—a milestone last reached in 2005 before militancy crippled output.
Authorities began recruiting private security contractors in 2021 to support the military and police in safeguarding vital pipelines. The combined approach, officials say, has placed the industry on a stronger footing to attract new investment and stabilize export earnings.
