The Nigerian Navy has announced significant progress in its ongoing anti-oil theft operations, revealing the arrest of 76 vessels and at least 242 suspects, along with the destruction of over 800 illegal refining sites over the past two years.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, June 19, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla disclosed that since June 2023, authorities have intercepted approximately 171,000 barrels of crude oil and millions of litres of illicitly refined fuel. In a bid to stem oil theft at its source, the navy began verifying crude oil cargoes loaded at Nigeria’s five major export terminals earlier this year.
To bolster its enforcement capabilities, the navy has expanded its fleet with new patrol boats, three additional ships, and three AW 139 Trekker helicopters. Construction is also underway for two seaward defence boats, while two 76-metre offshore patrol vessels are expected from Türkiye’s Dearsan Shipyard. These measures form part of a broader strategy to restore integrity to Nigeria’s oil sector, which has been severely undermined by theft, resulting in economic losses and declining export revenues.