NNPCL UNCOVERS 17 PIPELINE CONNECTIONS, 34 ILLEGAL REFINERIES IN 1 WEEK

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In a single week, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, or NNPCL, discovered 17 pipeline connections and 34 illicit refineries in the Niger Delta.

NNPCL claimed in a video documentary uploaded to its official YouTube channel on Tuesday that the illicit activities were stopped as part of its “War On Crude Oil Theft” operations, which took place between November 30 and December 6, in keeping with its pledge to eradicate crude oil theft in Nigeria.

The company went on to say that government security agencies, Shell Petroleum Development Company, OANDO PLC, Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, New Guard Security and Consultancy Limited, and NNPCL command and control centers worked together to accomplish the feat.

NNPCL also explained that it recorded a total of 94 oil theft incidents in parts of Bayelsa, Rivers and Abia states.

“In a series of coordinated operations, illegal pipelines were discovered and dismantled at key hotspots – Ogboingbiri, Ejehinkiri, Alabelema in Bayelsa state.

“And Okrika 7 in Rivers state witnessed swift action as security forces uncovered an illicit setup used by perpetrators to exploit Nigeria’s resources.

“Repairs were carried out promptly restoring the pipelines to full functionality and fortifying the nation’s hydrocarbon infrastructure.

“The crackdown didn’t stop there. Illegal refineries met their end in Ebocha, umuajuloke community, Okrika 7, and Kumkum in Rivers State, as well as Ukwa, Uzuaku, Oza West, Odogwa, Obuzor, Oandu in Abia State and Bizeni in Bayelsa state,” the company said.

The NNPCL also disclosed that it had discovered a large illegal storage facility in River State’s Okrika 7, where officials discovered crude oil packed in bags for the illicit market.

According to the report, 19 individuals in all were captured and turned over to government security organizations for further examination.