82 illegal refineries in Nigeria were discovered and demolished between the 10th to 15th of February 2024.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) relayed that it uncovered these illegal operations in the south-south region of the country. Oil theft has been a major issue plaguing the country’s oil sector.
Additionally, the NNPCL said on Tuesday that multiple sources had reported 223 instances during the previous week, according to a report from the Nigerian newspaper, The Punch.
Videos of some of these activities have surfaced, including one in Okrika, Rivers State, where an oil source was found and an oil pit was uncovered, with many pipes flowing petroleum into the pit.
“20 illegal connections were discovered across several locations in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta States. A cluster of illegal refineries was discovered in various locations across Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Abia. In the past week, 82 illegal refineries were discovered and destroyed,” the NNPCL said.
The NNPCL also noted that various locations for illicit storage were found throughout the Niger Delta region, alongside bags and cans carrying stolen crude oil in Rivers and Edo States.
Some of the NNPCL’s other discoveries include damaged well heads and pipelines, 13 vehicles, and 83 wooden and fiber boats, used for transporting stolen crude.
The NNPCL disclosed that eight of the aforementioned incidents happened in the deep blue sea, 32 in the western region, 123 in its central region, and 60 in the eastern part of the Niger Delta.
52 culprits were reportedly detained concerning these incidents.
SOURCE:africa.businessinsider.com
