The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has uncovered 122 illegal oil refining around the Niger Delta region of Nigeria in the last 7 days.
A documentary released by the NNPCL on Tuesday reported that a filling station in Grey Creek in Akwa Ibom State was sealed for selling illegally refined fuel to motorists. The report also noted that 65 illegal pipeline connections were uncovered and removed within the past week in Rivers and other states in the oil-rich Niger Delta.
NNPCL, again, disclosed that while reeling out its efforts in fighting oil theft and vandalism “310 incidents were recorded between May 18 and 24 across the Niger Delta region.”
Details of the report showed that the 122 illegal refineries were spotted at Tomble II, III, IV, Umuajuloke, Rivers State as well as Oporomor III, Eduwini, and Ajatiton in Bayelsa State. Vandalized well heads were reportedly discovered in Tomble IV, Rivers and Egbema in Imo State.
Recently, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, had said the country needs to tackle oil theft to boost crude oil production and revenue.
“No one is going to put money into oil production when he knows the production will not get to the market. Within the last two years, we removed over 5,800 illegal connections from our pipelines. We took down over 6,000 illegal refineries. You simply cannot get people to put money until you solve that problem,” he stated.
