Oil theft: Marketers seek ONSA’s, PAP’s intervention to end menace

Oil theft: Marketers seek ONSA’s, PAP’s intervention to end menace

Association of Nigeria Refinery, Petroleum Marketers (ANRPM) has called for collaboration from National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, on eliminating oil theft.

Listing youth restiveness, irregularities, exploitation, hoarding, sharp practice, artificial scarcity, adulterated product and illegal bunkering as some challenges, it urged Administrator of Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dennis Otuaro, for support.

National Coordinator of Operation/Administration, Dr. Edison Nwadiaro, spoke with reporters in Abuja, saying 6,438 illegal refineries had been discovered in Niger Delta.

Edison noted “Nigeria will find it difficult to meet its production target because of oil theft on its pipeline.

“The extent of damage are up to 4,880 illegal connection points along 5,000 Km of pipeline. More of such connections points have not been recovered with 6,438 illegal refineries in Niger Delta despite security agencies in the region.

“It’s obvious, despite the integrity issues with our pipeline and facilities we have Capacity to eradicate crude theft. In 2023 ,Nigeria lost N2.3 trillion in oil theft higher than projected revenue from crude oil and gas sales in 2024, about one trillion naira, Nigeria spent N34.47 billion between 2024 and first half of 2022 to fix pipelines.

“We urge the NSA and Amnesty to work with ANRPM to support this administration in eliminating oil theft, youth restiveness, irregularities, exploitation, hoarding, and other challenges in the sector’’, he said.