No fewer than 5,840 illegal refineries were discovered in the Niger Delta region under the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Also, over six million barrels of crude oil, 1.2 billion litres of Automative Gas Oil, 24 million litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene and about three million litres of petrol were seized by the Nigerian Armed Forces from oil thieves.
According to the Ministry of Defence in its scorecard under Buhari’s administration from 2015 to 2023, over N158bn has been saved as a result of the efforts of armed forces in combating crude oil theft in the region.
It added, “President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration since inception has made security a top priority on his agenda with the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Nigeria being in the forefront. The AFN performed credibly well in the fight against crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering. Cumulatively, from 2015 to date, a total of about 5,840 illegal refining sites were deactivated.
Also, the Armed Forces said it arrested 492 vessels operating illegally within Nigeria’s territory and waterways during the period.
It listed them to include MT Heroic Idun arrested on August 8, 2022; MV Chayanee Naree on October 8, 2021 and MV Kateria arrested on November 7, 2021.
