Environmental activists have expressed concerns over the environmental repercussions of a recent military action that involved burning a ship carrying over 800,000 liters of stolen crude oil.
The executive director of the International Climate Change Development Initiative, Nigerian NGO Mr. Olumide Idowu, warned that the burning of the vessel could have detrimental effects on drinking water, agricultural irrigation, and the aquatic ecosystem, disrupting the delicate balance of plants and animals.
For decades, Nigerian authorities have been struggling to combat oil theft from pipelines and wells in the Niger Delta region. The ship, caught smuggling oil to Cameroon, was destroyed as a deterrent for potential criminals, according to Nigerian officials.
However, critics have raised concerns about the environmental damage caused and questioned the circumstances surrounding the ship’s interception by a controversial security outfit led by a former militant leader.
Nigeria’s National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC) stated that the stolen oil originated from a well in southwest Ondo state and that the vessel had operated unnoticed for up to 12 years. The ship lacked documentation justifying its cargo. The discovery marks another in a series of oil busts by NNPC-contractor Tantita Security Services, headed by Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo.
In a military operation carried out by the joint task force Operation Delta Safe, a Nigerian military helicopter bombarded the vessel, causing its contents to be dumped into the water.
Environmentalists emphasize the urgent need for authorities to find alternative methods of handling looted oil that minimize harm to nature.
President Bola Tinubu faces the challenge of addressing this trend, as he implements significant economic reforms to improve Nigeria’s economy, including ending expensive fuel subsidies.
In April, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative revealed that the country had lost approximately $46 billion to oil theft over 12 years.
While some argue that the strict measures applied by authorities are necessary to tackle the larger issue, Emmanuel Afimia, owner of oil and gas consulting firm Enermics Consulting, points out that the destruction of the vessel may complicate the prosecution of offenders.
With the vessel now burned, concerns arise about the quantity and value of crude oil stolen over the vessel’s 12-year operation.
Nigeria’s government entered into a deal with Tantita in August 2022, resulting in an intense crackdown on oil thieves and a significant reduction in oil theft in the Niger Delta region.