By Fatima Saka
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC), has strengthened collaboration with the Joint Security Task Force and other stakeholders to tackle oil theft and illegal refineries in Nigeria.
Malam Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director, NNPC, said this during an assessment tour of some illegal refineries in Rivers on Wednesday, along with some top government officials.
The inspection tour was alongside Chief Timipre Sylva, the Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff and Mr Gbenga Komolafe, Commission Chief Executive, Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and some oil companies officials.
Observation of illegal sites at creeks and swampy areas were assessed from aerial view, while a site located at Ibaa Community in Eme Oha Local Government Area, Rivers was thoroughly assessed by the officials.
Kyari expressed optimism on the zeal to put an end to the problem, underscoring the need to intensify security on ground and modern technology to tackle the menace.
The NNPC boss said that pipeline vandalism, oil theft and illegal refining activities were threatening the growth of the country’s oil and gas industry.
He said the Nigerian Navy was also doing enormous work and have made several arrest and equally preventing illegal movement of oil through the vessels.
Also speaking, Gbenga Komolafe described the situation as a natural disaster, adding that there were clear regulations guiding people who genuinely wanted to do upstream business in the country.
“This is absolute criminality, on the part of government, if any Nigerian want to participate in upstream activity , they can contact the regulatory body for guidance,” Komolafe said.
According to NNPC, the combined efforts of the government security and regulatory agencies, the host community and oil companies was a different approach towards curbing oil theft and bunkering.
Other officials of NNPC, regulatory agencies, joint task force comprising personnel of security agencies were also part of the assessment tour.
