The National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has revealed that Nigeria is still losing about 400,000 barrels of crude oil daily to local and international thieves despite efforts to end the menace.
This was confirmed by Ribadu when he led a presidential delegation to inspect oil and gas facilities at Owaza in Abia and Odogwa in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers on weekend.
This is as the Federal Government has expressed its determination to put a stop to pipeline vandalism and oil theft in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
Ribadu was accompanied by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil); Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas); Ekperikpe Ekpo, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, and some others.
Ribadu said the activities of oil thieves and pipeline vandals had impacted the nation’s economy negatively and were partly responsible for the rising cost of living in the country.
Nigeria can produce 2 million barrels of crude daily.
The NSA said, “It’s unfortunate that few individuals would steal our common resources, and in the process cause unbelievable loss to both the nation, communities and the people.
“Nigeria can produce 2 million barrels of crude daily, but we are currently making less than 1.6 million barrels due to theft and vandalism of pipelines.
“So, we are talking about 400,000 barrels of crude oil going to waste with few criminals and economic saboteurs not even getting much out of it.’’ (Nairametrics)
