By Adedapo Adesanya

A concealed illegal crude oil storage facility in Delta State, with approximately 17,000 litres, has been uncovered by the Nigerian Navy.

The discovery, made under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, highlights the increasingly sophisticated tactics employed by crude oil thieves in the Niger Delta, even as security agencies strengthen intelligence-driven operations to protect critical oil infrastructure.

According to the Navy, personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) DELTA uncovered the illegal site following actionable intelligence on suspected crude oil theft activities around the Ugbokodo Creek axis of Delta State.

In a statement issued this week by the Director of Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation combined ground surveillance with aerial reconnaissance to expose a carefully disguised reservoir used to store stolen crude oil.

Although initial inspections showed no visible signs of illegal activity, drone imagery later revealed a large, freshly excavated reservoir hidden beneath thick vegetation, wooden planks and leaves to evade detection.

The Navy said the site showed clear evidence of recent illegal operations and appeared to function as a temporary holding point within a wider illicit crude supply chain.

The discovery underscores the evolving methods adopted by criminal syndicates as authorities intensify the crackdown on oil theft across the Niger Delta.

The Navy noted that integrating intelligence gathering with advanced aerial surveillance capabilities has significantly improved its ability to detect and disrupt illegal activities that would otherwise remain hidden.

The maritime force said the reservoir, recovered products and related materials were secured and processed in line with existing operational procedures, effectively denying economic saboteurs access to resources intended to sustain further criminal activities.

The operation forms part of ongoing efforts by the Nigerian Navy to curb crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal refining activities that have continued to erode government revenues and undermine investor confidence in the oil and gas sector.

Oil theft remains one of Nigeria’s biggest challenges, costing the country billions of dollars annually through lost production, environmental degradation and damage to critical infrastructure.

The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining pressure on criminal networks through persistent surveillance, intelligence-led operations and coordinated interventions aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s energy assets and protecting the nation’s economic interests.

By Adedapo Adesanya

State governors have restated their commitment to the establishment of state police and reforms in the electricity sector.

The agreement was reached in a communiqué issued at the end of the 2nd meeting of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum on Wednesday.

During the meeting, the governors deliberated issues affecting the country, noting a dedicated consultation with the Attorneys-General to review the proposed constitutional amendments and frameworks for their decision.

“Governors emphasised the need for the State Police to be constitutionally sound and aligned with federalism and citizens’ rights.

“The Forum noted the collaborative effort and added that the consultation outcomes would strengthen the States’ collective position”, the statement said in part.

The group also received a presentation from the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning on progress under the National Nutrition 774 (N-774) Initiative.

It reaffirmed the governors’ commitment to improving nutrition outcomes and reducing child malnutrition across Nigeria.

According to the statement, the governors noted the ongoing work on the National Nutrition Bill and encouraged continued engagement with relevant stakeholders to strengthen the legal and policy framework for nutrition governance.

The forum also received a briefing from the World Bank Country Office on the proposed Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Nigeria covering the period FY2026–2032; the proposed Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value-Chains for Growth (AGROW) Programme, a results-based initiative designed to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen value chains, increase private sector participation, enhance food security, and Early Childhood Development (ECD).

The forum supported ongoing collaboration with the Federal Government, the World Bank, and other stakeholders to ensure successful implementation and deliver benefits to participating states.

They approved state-specific interventions and stressed the importance of better coordination across sectors like health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation, social protection, and family support.

On the National Solar Super-Grid (NSSG) Initiative, a proposal to expand electricity access through large-scale decentralised solar generation integrated with a national high-voltage transmission network, it noted the initiative’s potential to support industrialisation, improve energy security, strengthen state electricity markets, and accelerate economic growth.

The governors reiterated their commitment to ongoing power sector reforms and to strengthening collaboration among stakeholders to expand access to reliable and affordable electricity for Nigerians.

By Adedapo Adesanya

Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, was on Wednesday found not guilty ​by a London jury of six bribery charges, after ‌five months of trial.

Mrs Alison-Madueke, an oil minister between 2010 and 2015 under then-president Goodluck Jonathan, stood trial ​charged with five counts of accepting bribes and a ​charge of conspiracy to commit bribery, which she denied.

Prosecutors ⁠alleged that the 65-year-old Mrs Alison-Madueke was given “a life of luxury” in London ​from oil and gas industry figures seeking lucrative contracts in Nigeria, ​which has long grappled with mismanagement and corruption.

The jury deliberated for more than 46 hours before reaching its verdict.

Mrs Alison-Madueke was charged by the UK’s National Crime Agency in 2023 over allegations she took £100,000 in cash as well as accepting flights on private jets, chauffeur-driven cars and luxury goods from Louis Vuitton and Harrods.

Other counts allege she received school fees for her son, products from high-end shops such as London’s Harrods department store and Louis Vuitton, and further private jet flights.

Mrs Alison-Madueke has been involved in numerous legal cases globally, including in the United States.

She has been on bail in Britain since she was arrested in October 2015.

In 2023, she was formally charged with accepting bribes, which she has denied.

Mrs Alison-Madueke stood trial alongside oil industry executive, Mrs Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who was ​charged with one count of bribery relating to ​Alison-Madueke ⁠and a separate count of bribery of a foreign public official.

Also, her elder brother, Mr Doye Agama, 69, was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery ⁠with ​his sister relating to payments made to ​his church.

Both Mrs Ayinde and Mr Agama denied the charges against them and were also ​acquitted by the jury.