By Tola Gbadamosi
The Nigerian Navy has recorded major successes in its fight against crude oil theft and smuggling in the Niger Delta during July 2025, deactivating over 71 illegal refinery sites and seizing thousands of litres of stolen petroleum products.
According to a statement by the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Adams-Aliu, the month-long “Operation Delta” denied oil thieves access to about 411,400 litres of crude oil, 87,825 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), 72,000 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) and 21,900 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
The Navy also arrested three suspected smugglers in Akwa Ibom State while they attempted to transport 10 drums (about 2,500 litres) of PMS in a wooden boat to neighbouring Cameroon. The suspects and products were handed over to the appropriate authorities.
In a series of operations across Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom States, naval personnel uncovered and dismantled numerous illegal refining facilities, underground reservoirs, storage pits, and smuggling routes.
Key highlights include:
July 4:Six illegal refinery sites with 40 dugout pits, 40 ovens, and 30 reservoirs holding about 40,000 litres of AGO were destroyed in Rivers State.
July 12: One refinery site containing 2,300 litres of stolen crude oil was dismantled in Otegele, Delta State.
July 14: Underground reservoirs and pits holding 7,000 litres of crude oil were uncovered in Warri South West LGA, Delta State. Another wooden boat with 2,500 litres of PMS was seized in Akwa Ibom.
July 16–23: Multiple sites in Delta and Bayelsa States were raided, with some containing over 250,000 litres of stolen crude oil. Equipment including pumps, ovens, and siphoning pipes were confiscated.
July 25–28: Operations in Delta State led to the deactivation of refinery sites holding thousands of litres of crude oil and AGO, along with extensive underground storage infrastructure.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, commended the efforts of the naval teams, noting that the sustained crackdown is aimed at eradicating crude oil theft and boosting Nigeria’s oil production. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) recently confirmed that the nation’s output has risen above 1.8 million barrels per day.
The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the nation’s maritime domain, deterring criminal activities, and enhancing economic security.