NewStats: 3,263,980 , 8,182,130 topics. Date: Monday, 09 June 2025 at 07:04 AM 42s29

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited on Saturday expressed concern about the large scale of oil bunkering in the country, stating that it has traced illegal pipes to sacred institutions, including mosques, churches, and traditional palaces.

The agency also said increasing crude oil production from the current 1.7 million barrels per day to three million barrels is achievable.

Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, revealed this during a Stakeholders Engagement Session with the National Assembly Press Corp in Abuja.

He noted that there are many challenges in the oil sector that must be looked into if the nation's economy is to survive.

While recalling how a vessel arrested for oil theft was rearrested after three months, Soneye said low prosecution rate of criminals undermines efforts to combat the crime.

His words: "I want everyone who is listening, there is a problem. If we do not take care of these issues, there is a problem.

"In November last year, we went to look at a vessel that was caught with crewmen. The chief of army staff was there, the military, air force, the police.It was a very large vessel with about 23 crewmen on board.

"They were arrested and handed over to the military. But it interests you that sometime this year, around February, the same vessel was caught in another place.

"Now you ask, what is the prosecution rate of those stealing the oil?. It is less than two per cent. So you can see the result when you see over 2,500 folks being arrested, but then the prosecution rate is two percent.

"It's a very difficult challenge for NNPC. Somebody was asking the question, why do we engage private security firms? it's a very good question. The person asked if the military or law enforcement are not doing their job. No, they are doing their job. I can't stand there and say they are not doing their job. But I will just say this.

According to Soneye, there is no country in the world, where non-state actors are the ones taking care of national assets, saying there was a time when the production level went below 900,000 barrels a day.

"At that point, the NNPC knew we were in trouble And then we sought help by discussing with the community leaders and private security. And with the help of the private security, production went up to about 1.5 million barrels.

"Now the president formed a committee formed with the military. And working together with the private security companies, now we are between 1.6 and 1.7 million barrels.

"Have the private security really helped us? Yes, they have. Are the military doing their best? Yes, they are.

"But the important thing that we should take away from here still goes down to what Mr.
Durotoye was saying being exemplary in what we do. If you take a trip to those places you will see at times that some of these pipes are inserted, if you trace them some of them go into churches, some into mosques and some into palaces of kings."

Deputy manager, Command and Control Centre of the NNPC, Murtala Muhammad, has disclosed that more than 8,000 illegal refineries have been destroyed within the last six months in the country.

He said 5,800 illegal oil pipeline connections were detected and destroyed within the same period.

Muhammad said oil theft and vandalisation of oil pipelines remained a threat to crude production in the country, listing Bayelsa, Rivers, Imo and Abia among others as the hot spots.

https://guardian.ng/energy/oil-theft-we-traced-illegal-pipes-to-mosques-churches-palaces-says-nnpcl/

Pathetic

Only a leader with
Integrity
Sincerity
Charisma
Courage and fearless leader can change Nigeria


E no hard just that we never get the person, Peter Obi who posses the qualities was rigged out

We want to see them.

We want to see them. The pipes, the churches and the mosques

Wonders of Nigeria

Can we see pictorial evidence of the said mosques, churches, and palaces the oil pipeline was into? 
Tinubu and NNPCL have become the biggest liars in the history of this country. Trust whatever comes out of their mouth at your peril.

Nnpc should stop this useless talk please....why blackmail Church and mosque like why? If it's true call the leaders of that church or mosque for proper questioning and stop propaganda

Atuero:
Pathetic

Only a leader with
Integrity
Sincerity
Charisma
Courage and fearless leader can change Nigeria


E no hard just that we never get the person, Peter Obi who posses the qualities was rigged out

So what is there on ground to show Peter Obi posses the quality? Is it because he built a brewery or was caught with 250m Anambra funds in Broad daylight in Lagos?

Sakamanje

Richtaiwo:

So what is there on ground to show Peter Obi posses the quality? Is it because he built a brewery or was caught with 250m Anambra funds in Broad daylight in Lagos?

Go and

Richtaiwo:

So what is there on ground to show Peter Obi posses the quality? Is it because he built a brewery or was caught with 250m Anambra funds in Broad daylight in Lagos?

u know d truth....u just can't accept it cos it is better ur tribal man is in power

A country where everybody is a thief, you never start stealing because you haven't been giving the opportunity.

Richtaiwo:

So what is there on ground to show Peter Obi posses the quality? Is it because he built a brewery or was caught with 250m Anambra funds in Broad daylight in Lagos?

He was caught with 250 million and EFCC or any of the security forces didn't question him? I during the run up to the elections he challenged any with proof that he stole money to come forward and if true, he would step aside. Why didn't you take up the challenge since you have an evidence?

Reading comments.tgis country is pathetically divided

NNPCL dey maddd

Government should stop destroying illegal refineries, because it will never stop. Rather draft a framework to make them legal and guidelines, to bring sanity to the system.

Lol.

Sacred?

And comrade wept!

Ghen ghen

Horrible people

Terrorist act . Please name the church and mosque

Na lie


Oil theif are in Aso rock only.

The ones your people are stealing self all these.

Lies

Honestly I begins to hate anything NNPCL because they talks too much, way too much.

lies the pipes that have been traced from the south to Eritrea and Morocco what happened to them
all of them are taking something under the table

Nigerians are boiling the end would be bloody cuz the way I see their money wont save them

NNPCL are the enemies of this country





[/quote]

Atuero:
Pathetic

Only a leader with
Integrity
Sincerity
Charisma
Courage and fearless leader can change Nigeria


E no hard just that we never get the person, Peter Obi who posses the qualities was rigged out

What you don't know is that non of them are saint....They are the same just the party changes

ProudBoy:



https://guardian.ng/energy/oil-theft-we-traced-illegal-pipes-to-mosques-churches-palaces-says-nnpcl/

list those churches, mosques and the palaces.

...see yeye talk...this people should hid their face in shame.Nigeria is a tragic-comedy of the absurd.Thieves.

Atuero:
Pathetic

Only a leader with
Integrity
Sincerity
Charisma
Courage and fearless leader can change Nigeria


E no hard just that we never get the person, Peter Obi who posses the qualities was rigged out

So, are you sure Peter Obi have ANY of these qualities ?

Name of church, name of church, name of church with pipe line 🤷 . Nnpc : ✋ we don't mention names