The Nigerian Navy (NN) has disclosed that it recorded enormous accomplishments in its bid to combat oil bunkering and destroying illegal refineries in 2024. Under the operation code named ‘Delta Sanity 1’ the Navy arrested 215 suspects and 26 vessels as well as deactivated 468 Illegal refinery sites in the Niger-Delta. In addition, under the year in review, an estimated 6.5 million litres of stolen crude oil and 7 million litres of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO) were seized.
This was disclosed during a flag-off ceremony of ‘Operation Delta Sanity II’ by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Oil, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, which took place in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, last week. Describing the battle to rid the Niger Delta of all forms of illegalities as an unprecedented feat n providing safe and conducive environment for enhanced oil production, the spokesman of the NN, Commodore Adams Aliu, recalled that the fight against oil theft was intensified in 2024, following the deployment of personnel, patrol boats, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. These strides achieved by the nation’s security forces can best be appreciated when we consider the fact that Nigeria in 2023 alone lost over $23 billion through illegal activities of criminals operating in the Niger Delta.
Records by the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) reveal that between 2009 and 2020, the country lost approximately 620 million barrels of crude oil, valued at $46 billion (€42 billion). The body, which promotes accountability in managing the nation’s oil, gas, and mining revenue, lamented that the extent of these losses can only be understood when viewed against the projects that could be executed with such whopping sums for development.
The fight against oil theft has been age-long and has grown in sophistication. With a pragmatic synergy between the security forces and deprived oil communities, oil bunkering and other oil-related crimes have been thriving despite efforts to rein in perpetrators of the crime. Some members of the oil communities, who have always been at the receiving end of environmental pollution due to oil exploration, have not only participated in these crimes but also provided oxygen to oil thieves. There’s no doubt that increased surveillance and deployment of more boots on the ground by the Navy have led to increased triumphs in the fight against oil crimes in the oil-rich region.
For theft and other forms of crimes to be tackled in the oil-producing areas, according to analysts, local communities in the Niger Delta must be involved in sharing the prosperity brought by oil production. A situation where these locales are turned into the destitute of the nation should not be allowed to prevail. Apart from environmental pollution and the virus of corruption that has weakened public agencies in resolving the poverty plaguing citizens living in the oil-producing communities, the need to encourage a sense of belonging and persuade citizens to stand up in defence of national interest should be considered a priority. There are no better ways of protecting oil installations from vandals than ensuring that local communities benefit from the commonwealth. When communities are deserted and left to wallow in poverty made worse by environmental pollution, the only choice left for survival is to align with oil criminal elements.
The Navy and other security agencies should be commended for fighting these oil thieves that have robbed the country of increased revenue for development. However, despite the praiseworthy feat of weakening the forces behind oil theft and setting ablaze hundreds of illegal refineries, there’s still need for the nation’s security to increase inter-agency synergies in order to defeat the sophistication in oil crimes that are obviously being supported by international conspiracy that is protected by a subtle but strong local collaborators.
The war against oil criminals is still ongoing, and the security forces must not be deterred in their determination to permanently rid the oil region of these criminals who have foisted a financial drain pipe for the country. Getting citizens to align with the national interest and giving locals a sense of belonging, especially improving their economic wellbeing, is most effective in providing security to oil installations. For local communities to be won over in the battle against these oil brigands operating in the Niger Delta, locales must be convinced that it’s far more profitable for them to side with the government than collaborate with criminals for benefits.
Blueprint calls on the nation’s military high command, especially the Navy, not to relent on its resolve to eliminate oil theft and stop the operations of illegal refineries. Local communities should also be carried along in order to find permanent solutions in ending illegalities taking place in the oil region.