Oil theft: Navy denies blaming NNPCL

The Nigerian Navy on Monday said it did not indict the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited over oil theft in the country.

The Director of Information, Nigeria Navy, Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, made this known in a press release on Monday.

Ayo-Vaughan was reacting to a media report that the Navy accused the NNPCL of allegedly not revealing the true cause(s) of crude oil theft in the country, but reeling out exaggerated figures to save its face.

The report was said to have emanated from an interactive hearing before the Senate Committee on Economic and Financial Crimes during which the relevant agencies implementing the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022, briefed the committee at the National Assembly.

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Ayo-Vaughan said, “The report indicated that the chairman of the committee demanded explanations on why the country continued to experience cases of oil theft if the waterways were secured.

“The distinguished senator had queried that, ‘The oil theft issue has been a very worrisome one to every Nigerian and more importantly, it has negatively impacted our economy. How come the Navy hasn’t been able to solve the issue of oil theft and if the Navy is claiming that the waterways are secured, why are there still cases of oil theft?’

“Equally, it was mentioned that another senator noted that at an oversight function, the NNPCL said crude pipelines were being tapped from the pressure pipe under the sea and crude oil was usually transferred from there into vessels, and this had been happening for nine years.

“He reportedly asked, ‘Is the Navy aware or not of the tapping going on under the sea?’ The questions were all responded to and in the course of responding, it was explained that the challenge is due to the criminal activity inshore by the illegal local refiners in tapping into the export lines many of which have not been in operation since early this year, 2022, resulting in opportunity lost.”

Ayo-Vaughan said major terminals had not been able to process crude for export since around February/March, adding that this inability to process as export was reported as stolen oil since it was practically impossible to steal and move 100,000 barrels per day out of the creeks.

He added, “The Navy representative at the Senate hearing repeatedly mentioned that the Navy is not indicting the NNPCL in any way and has been working with the national oil giant to curb the menace of crude oil theft since April 1, 2022, when Operation Dakatar Da Barawo  was launched in Onne, Rivers State as a mutual effort and synergy between the Navy and NNPCL to address issues of crude oil theft, rampant illegal artisan refineries and illegal oil bunkering amongst other criminalities in the creeks.

“At the strategic level, almost daily and regular consultations, engagements and meetings are held between the Navy and NNPCL to review the situation, appraise the approach to curb the menace and proffer ways forward.

“Pertinently, to attempt to imply otherwise will be a gross misrepresentation of the cordial and mutual working relationship between the two organisations. For the avoidance of doubt, the Nigerian Navy under the able leadership of Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo has been and will continue to work with the NNPCL to fashion out solutions and remedies to the challenges in Nigeria’s maritime environment concerning the oil industry for the overall good of Nigeria and indeed for all well-meaning Nigerians.”