The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has alleged that the theft of the nation’s crude oil involves government officials, religious leaders, security agencies, and even some NNPC staff.
During the 49th session of the weekly ministerial briefing at the State House in Abuja, NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer Kyari insisted that oil theft is largely perpetrated by Nigerians.
According to Channels TV, the NNPC boss revealed that the stolen products are primarily found in churches and mosques, indicating the existence of a network of vandals collaborating to engage in oil theft.
Kyari disclosed that the entire network of pipelines for petroleum products distribution in the country has been shut down due to the activities of vandals.
To address this issue, the Group CEO announced the establishment of a national reserve company to manage the pipelines on a commercial basis, ensuring efficient distribution of products across the country.
He also stated that crude oil theft, resulting in the discovery of 295 illegal connections, has made it challenging for oil companies to operate effectively but affirmed that they are taking action to combat this issue.