ANEEJ Berates NNPCL for $1.84bn Crude Oil Loss to Thieves, Lauds NEITI’s Audit Disclosure

BENIN CITY, NIGERIA. July 19, 2023… The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, has commended the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and an Advisory committee member of the Nigerian Endowments through Asset Transformation (NEAT-Initiative), Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, for the comprehensive data released at the 2024 NEITI Board retreat, and berated the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited  for the nation’s loss of $1.84bn worth of crude oil to thieves as contained in the  2009 and 2018 NEITI audit report.

ANEEJ Executive Director and Convener, Peoples AGM Platform, Rev David Ugolor,  in his reaction to the  NEITI’s audit report.

“We are alarmed at the expose from the comprehensive NEITI audit report which exposed the staggering losses incurred due to crude oil theft in Nigeria, a menace that has plagued the nation for several decades under the watch of the NNPCL. These losses have far-reaching implications for the nation’s economy, development, and citizens’ well-being,” Ugolor said

While commending President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for his swift response to NEITI’s expose, by detailing security chiefs to work with NNPCL to end the menace, Rev. Ugolor also noted that the theft of millions of barrels was avoidable if the NNPCL did its work patriotically over the years.  He also noted that the criminal tendencies of oil theft, including pipeline vandalization, leakages, and illegal siphoning can also be linked to the nefarious activities of some international oil companies (IOCs) aided by government proteges within the NNPCL as a recent court case in the UK revealed.

This is the first time NEITI’s report and release of data has been swiftly responded to by the federal government, and it is commendable. “We urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to stop at the order of crackdown on oil thieves by heads of security forces but to also task the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to be more transparent and accountable in its operations to Nigerians.  Despite having the largest gas reserve in Africa (approximately 200 trillion cubic feet), Nigeria faces significant challenges in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and job creation as a result of the mismanagement of oil resources which exacerbates this paradox, hindering the country’s progress,” Ugolor asserted.

The ANEEJ boss then urged the Nigerian government, IOCs, and relevant stakeholders to take decisive steps to address oil theft by enhancing security around oil and gas pipelines, carrying out regular audits of the NNPC and other relevant agencies, activating robust data-driven reporting mechanisms and accountability measures that are essential to curb illicit activities.

He called on the federal government to look beyond oil and take concrete steps to diversify Nigeria’s economy as strategic investments in infrastructure, education, agriculture, and healthcare will create a more resilient and prosperous nation.

ANEEJ remains committed to advocating for responsible resource management, environmental protection, and economic justice. We commend NEITI’s efforts and call for sustained action to unravel the sleaze in the oil and gas sector.

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