By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian troops have destroyed several illegal refining sites in Rivers and Bayelsa States in the Niger Delta region, as part of intensified efforts to clamp down on oil theft and boost crude production back to peak levels.
According to the Nigerian Nigeria Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, in a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, the destruction was carried out during an operation by troops of the Land Component, Joint Task Force, South-South, Operation Delta Safe.
The Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt Col. Jonah Danjuma, also confirmed the development in a separate statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday morning.
The statement partly read, “In the operations that ensued, troops identified several illegal refining sites in Rivers and Bayelsa States, where several discoveries were made.
“In Rivers State, troops of Sector 3, Land Component, Joint Task Force, South-South Operation Delta Safe, following credible intelligence identified and successfully destroyed three illegal refining sites at Odagwa in Etche Local Government Area.
”The operation led to the confiscation and subsequent destruction of over 30, 000 litres of stolen and illegally refined products.”
Also, at Akaso field down to Cawthorne channel, around well 9, troops discovered one illegal refining site, three receivers and massive connecting pipes traversing the terrain to convey stolen crude to illegal refining sites.
The statement added, “Other items were also confiscated and destroyed at the sites in line with the mandate of Operation Delta State in the Niger Delta Region.
“Similarly, in Bayelsa State, troops of Sector 2, while conducting routine operations in the creeks, waterways and rivulets along Dasaba Creek in Nembe LGA, confiscated over 12, 000 litres of stolen and illegally refined products.
”Other Items recovered at the illegal refining site include One Fibre Boat, Five Ovens, several metal drums as well as massive reservoirs used as storage facilities for this illegal venture.”
Recently, the NNPC declared a state of emergency on production in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry as Africa’s largest oil producer struggles to boost output.
NNPC noted that Nigeria needs to take urgent action to address the challenges that have plagued the oil and gas industry for years.
Oil remains the major source of Nigeria’s foreign earnings accounting for around 60 per cent. However, challenges such as oil theft, vandalism, and underinvestment make it difficult to attain a target of 2 million barrels per day.