Why Illegal Bunkering Thrives In Niger Delta

For Indigenes of Bayelsa, issues of illegal bunkering is not new and has gained acceptance despite repeated clampdown on their operations by security agencies, particularly the Joint Security Task Force, code named Operation Delta Safe. Osa Okhomina examines the operations of the illegal operators amidst growing concern over insecurity, destruction and other environmental effects.

In Bayelsa, the operations of illegal operators of local refineries have become a norm and has been embraced as another way of forceful sharing from the national cake.

While the security agents including the Joint Security Task Force code named Operation Delta Safe and the Nigerian Navy, engage in serious security operations with destruction of Illegal bunkering sites, the shady operation continued in some Bayelsa communities and has become a new way of livelihood.

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Source: leadership.ngdelta/

Navy Arrests Ships, 80 Boats, Destroys 50 Illegal Refineries

The Nigerian Navy said it operatives have impounded six ships and 80 wooden boats used by criminal elements for alleged illegal oil bunkering, used in siphoning of product from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipelines and crude oil well heads in six months. The Command also said it has destroyed over 50 illegal refineries at Yeye, Burutu and Ibafa creeks in Delta State.

The operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship NNS, Delta gave the names of the six arrested ships as MT Aysu, MT Interim, MV Mama Elizabeth, MT Miracle, MV Nipal and SD Waterman and 80 wooden boats used by criminals for alleged illegal bunkering of petroleum products from NNPC.

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Source: thetidenewsonline.com

Army kills suspected oil bunkering kingpin in Rivers

By Victor Azubuike

A suspected notorious cultist and illegal oil bunkering kingpin, Korobe Menele Loveday, who has been on the wanted list of the security agencies for terrorizing communities in Rivers State has been killed.

He was killed in a shootout with security operatives.

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Source: dailypost.ng

Anti-piracy bill will combat maritime crime as sector creates 7,000 jobs

By Tope Templer Olaiya, Sulaimon Salau, Gloria Ehiaghe (Lagos) and Rotimi Agboluaje (Ibadan)

Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside, has said the agency was taking strategic steps to deal with maritime piracy.

He disclosed that the anti-piracy bill, sponsored by NIMASA, has been passed by the National Assembly and as soon as it is signed into law, it would help tame piracy in and open up more opportunities in the sector.

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Source: guardian.ng

Chevron: oil theft, illegal refining, threaten economy

by Bolaji Ogundele

Oil major, Chevron Nigeria Limited has said crude oil theft, illegal oil refining and pipeline vandalism are major threats to Nigeria’s economy.

Chevron in a position paper presented at a one-day seminar on advocacy against crude oil theft in Warri, Delta State, said these challenges have continued to make it difficult for the country to meet its revenue projection, and at the same time have polluted the environment in the Niger Delta region.

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Source: thenationonlineng.net

Nigeria’s Economy Bleeds with N995bn Loss Annually to Crude Oil Theft’

By Babatunde Akinsola

A consultant to the Nigeria Natural Resource Charter (NNRC), Mr. Niyi Awodeyi, has disclosed that about N995.2 billion is lost annually due to crude oil theft. Awodeyi, which said the amount was discovered in a recent findings, also estimated that N3.8trillion was lost in 2016.

Awodeyi, who also quoted a World Bank report stated that 80 per cent of crude oil revenue in Nigeria was in possession of just one percent of the country’s population, stated that the award of security contracts, “gave the actors access to the pipelines”, with surprise increase in crude oil theft.

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Source: naija247news.com

Switzerland drags Nigeria to Intl tribunal over seized ship

Switzerland has asked an international court to order Nigeria to release a Swiss-flagged oil tanker, its cargo and crew that have been detained off Port Harcourt for the past 16 months.

The Swiss foreign ministry said in a statement weekend that it had appealed on May 21 to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to order Nigeria to release the San Padre Pio tanker.

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Source: orientdailynews.com.ng

Nigeria: Army Destroys 93 Illegal Refineries, Arrest 29 Suspects

By Kingsley Nwezeh

Abuja — As part of its campaign to contain sea piracy and oil bunkering in the Niger Delta region, the Nigerian Army said yesterday it destroyed 93 illegal refineries in the Niger Delta region.

In the course of its anti-illegal and sea piracy operations, 29 sea robbers and illegal oil bunkerers were also arrested while 80 trucks were detained.

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Source: allafrica.com

Nigeria offers 43 licences for large, modular refineries

By Kingsley Jeremiah

The Federal Government has disclosed that about 43 refineries, including large scale and modular refineries have been licensed to refine petroleum products across the country.

The Senior Technical Adviser to Nigeria’s Petroleum Minister on Refineries and Downstream Infrastructure, Rabiu Suleiman, told The Guardian in an exclusive interview that two of the refineries (modular) would be inaugurated in the coming week in the Niger Delta region.

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Source: guardian.ng

Army smashes biggest camp operated by Oil thieves in Delta

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME WARRI

The Nigerian army has smashed one of the biggest camps operated by oil thieves in Delta state, destroying about sixty Cotonu boats, 150 storage tanks, 700 drums used by the oil thieves for their illicit trade.

Commander Sector I, Operation Delta Safe,OPDS, Warri Delta state, Colonel Baba Manu led his men with two swamp boggy into the camp covering about 20 kilometres located between Ogevughe to Otujeremi in Ughelli north local government area

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Source: vanguardngr.com