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DAILY COURIER

 

Patrick Kelechi – The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL), in collaboration with security agencies, have recovered about 22 million litres of stolen crude.

 

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari, disclosed this on Tuesday, during a media briefing held at the State House, Abuja.

 

Kyari said over 22 million litres of Diesel 0.15 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit, and 0.76 million litres of kerosene have also been recovered from criminals.

 

He also disclosed that about 112 suspects have been arrested, while 11 vehicles, 30-speed boats, 179 wooden boats, 37 trucks have been seized and destroyed.

 

Other items recovered according to him are 959 metal tanks, 737 ovens, 452 dugout pits, 342 reservoirs and 355 cooking pots, have been destroyed.

 

Kyari also added that 207 pumping machines, 12 welding machines, six power generators, and two drilling machines were recovered from crude oil thieves.

 

The theft of crude oil had been frustrating the efforts of the government in attracting fresh investments into the oil and gas industry through the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act.

 

Earlier this month, the NNPC launched an App and urged Nigerians to report all incidences of crude oil theft, adding that such alarm will not go unrewarded.

 

Nigeria is losing 400,000 barrels per day to crude theft, the Minister of State Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, said on Tuesday.

 

Within a three-month period covering January 1 and March 31, 2022, Nigeria lost a whooping amount of $1 billion revenue to crude oil theft.

 

Four months ago, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabo, and the NNPC LTD Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, visited the Niger Delta for an on-the-spot assessment of the damage done by vandals.

 

Just last month, the European Union Delegation, top officials of the NNPC Ltd, as well as representatives of security agencies again visited the Niger Delta Creeks to assess the ongoing fight against crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, and vandalism of oil and gas installations.

 

Also on Saturday, Sylva, Irabor; Kyari, and other top officials of government visited the Governors of Imo, Bayelsa, and Delta States, to get their support in tackling crude oil theft.

 

These visits underscore the efforts of the government to find a lasting solution to the issue of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.