Security lapses fuel crude theft across Africa – NNPCL CEO

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bashir Ojulari, has revealed that international and continental criminal networks are exploiting security loopholes to steal crude oil across Africa.

Speaking at the opening of the Africa Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference in Abuja on Monday, Ojulari stressed that crude theft is not merely a local issue but a global challenge requiring joint military and intelligence collaboration across the continent.

“Crude theft and its attendant illegal activities are by no means purely localised.

“They involve specialised international syndicates who exploit weaknesses in national and continental security structures,” he told defence chiefs from across Africa.

Ojulari, however, noted that Nigeria has made significant progress in curbing oil theft and pipeline vandalism, particularly in the Niger Delta, through stronger collaboration with security agencies.

“Our pipelines and terminals, which once operated at as low as 20% to 30% capacity, are now approaching 100% receipt of crude, thanks to the support of security forces and intelligence agencies,” he said.

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The NNPCL boss emphasized that security remains central to achieving energy stability in Nigeria and across Africa, calling for stronger continental cooperation.

Dignitaries at the conference included UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed; Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu; National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu; Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray; AU Commission Chairperson Mahamoud Youssouf; former UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari; and FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji.