By Ayomide otitoju
Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Bayo Ojulari, says Nigeria’s crude oil pipeline and terminal receipts have risen to nearly 100 per cent, following intensified security operations against crude theft and pipeline vandalism.
Ojulari disclosed this on Monday at the 2025 African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit, noting that terminal receipts, which had fallen as low as 30 per cent due to theft and sabotage, are now almost fully recovered.
“We have seen the benefits of collaboration within the security space, with significant improvement in our operating environment,” Ojulari said. “The devastating impact of crude theft and pipeline attacks is now becoming an issue of the past, thanks to the immense and intentional efforts of government agencies and intelligence services across the Niger Delta.”
He praised Nigeria’s defence and security institutions for their professionalism and support, which he said were central to the improved performance of the oil sector.
Nigeria based its 2025 national budget on a crude oil production benchmark of 2.06 million barrels per day at $75 per barrel. However, production has consistently fallen short due to insecurity and large-scale crude theft.
Ojulari attributed oil theft to both local and international cartels that exploit security gaps to sustain their operations.
“Crime, theft and its attendant illegal activities are by no means purely localised. These operations involve sophisticated international syndicates that take advantage of weaknesses in national, regional and continental security frameworks,” he said.
He stressed the need for stronger continental collaboration to secure Africa’s energy assets, urging African states to “take destiny into their own hands” amid global geopolitical tensions.
According to him, the NNPC remains committed to working with defence and intelligence agencies to expand a regional security architecture that will address sabotage, illegal refineries, bunkering, and cross-border crude theft.
“Together, we can safeguard Africa’s resources, reinforce peace, and create an enabling environment for the prosperity of our people,” he added.
Ojulari’s remarks came as the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) reported that the country’s oil production rose significantly in July 2025, averaging 1.71 million barrels of oil per day.
