Nigeria Records 90% Reduction in Crude Oil Theft — NUPRC

By Diafa Doubra,

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has announced a significant milestone in the country’s fight against crude oil theft, revealing that incidents of illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism have dropped by over 90% in the past year.

Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja, the Chief Executive Officer of NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe, attributed the improvement to intensified surveillance, deployment of advanced monitoring technology, and stronger collaboration among security agencies and host communities. He explained that the Federal Government’s renewed focus on protecting oil infrastructure has restored confidence among investors and improved daily crude production levels.

Komolafe further stated that the Commission’s strategic partnership with private security outfits and the use of real-time pipeline tracking have been instrumental in curbing the long-standing menace, which had cost Nigeria billions of dollars annually. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustaining the gains and ensuring full transparency in the oil and gas sector.

Industry experts have welcomed the development, describing it as a major breakthrough that could boost revenue inflow and help Nigeria meet its OPEC production quota.