The Nigerian Navy has arrested 76 vessels and at least 242 suspects, and dismantled over 800 illegal refining sites in a sustained two-year operation against oil theft.
The crackdown, which began in June 2023, has led to the seizure of about 171,000 barrels of crude oil and millions of litres of illegally refined fuel, significantly disrupting criminal networks plaguing the country’s oil sector.
To enhance maritime security, the navy has started verifying oil cargoes at Nigeria’s five main export terminals and bolstered its capabilities with new assets, including patrol boats, three ships, and three AW 139 Trekker helicopters.
It is also constructing two seaward defence boats and is set to receive two 76-meter offshore patrol vessels from Turkey’s Dearsan Shipyard, as part of efforts to safeguard national resources and restore confidence in Nigeria’s oil industry.
