NNPCL announces arrest of vessel with 800, 000ltrs stolen crude oil heading to Cameroon
Khalid ABRAHAM
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) has announced the arrest of a vessel bearing 800, 000 litres of stolen crude oil headed to the neighbouring Cameroon.
According to a tweet by Garba Deen Muhammad, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, the arest was made on July 7 by a private security company engaged by the corporation.
It stated the security firm Messrs. Tantita Security Services was able to effect the interception following credible intelligence disclosing the vessel with registration number RC813311 sourced the oil from an Ondo state well jacket offshore.
The vessel it revealed belonging to a Nigerian company disappeared from Tin Can Port Lagos twelve years ago during which it had engaged in evacuation of stolen oil to neighbouring countries.
NNPCL disclosed the vessel would be destroyed to serve as deterrent to others.
“Following the receipt of credible intelligence, a Private Security Contractor engaged by NNPC Ltd., Messrs. Tantita Security Services, intercepted a suspicious Vessel with a Cargo of Crude oil on board on July 7, 2023.
“The Vessel, MT TURA II (IMO number: 6620462), owned by a Nigerian Registered Company, HOLAB MARITIME SERVICES LIMITED with Registration Number RC813311, was heading to Cameroun with the Cargo on board when it was apprehended at an offshore location (Latitude: 5.8197194477543235°, Longitude: 4.789002723991871°), with the Captain and Crew members on board.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the crude oil cargo onboard was illegally sourced from a well jacket offshore Ondo State, Nigeria. There was no valid documentation for the Vessel or the Crude Oil Cargo onboard at the time of the arrest.
“Further investigation into the activities of the vessel at the NNPC Ltd. Command and Control Centre also revealed that the Vessel has been operating in stealth mode for the last twelve (12) years. The last reported location of the Vessel was Tin Can Port in July 2011.
“Details of this arrest and the outcomes of the investigations were escalated to the appropriate Government authorities, upon which it was concluded to destroy the Vessel to serve as a strong warning and deterrent to all those participating in such illegal activities to cease and desist.”
Noting oil theft inflicts humongous economic losses on Nigeria it assured the tempo would be sustained.
“Destroying vessels involved in transporting stolen crude oil is of paramount importance as a strong deterrent. The illegal trade of stolen crude oil not only inflicts significant economic losses on Nigeria and legitimate stakeholders in the oil industry, but also perpetuates a cycle of corruption, environmental devastation, and social instability.
“NNPC Ltd. assures Nigerians that we will sustain the momentum in the war against crude oil theft until it is brought to a halt.”
ogbomosoinsightonline.com recalls that President Bola Tinubu during his inauguration on May 29 announced removal of oil subsidy citing the endemic corruption associated with the regime.
He noted crude oil is criminally diverted to neighbouring countries among other disclosures making Nigeria to incur monumental losses.
Also, recently, a former Niger militant Alhaji Asari Dokubo alleged military leaders of involvement in crude oil theft calling for investigations.
The Asari Dokubo’s allegation expectedly generated lots of furore with many calling for his arrest and others hailing him.
Crude oil management in Nigeria is believed to be a cesspool of corruptions involving illegal appropriation of crude and refined products by security forces, militia groups, oil company officials and local populations either through oil bunkering or during the transportation of the crude oil product to the oil shipping terminals for export with various reports churning out several thousands of barrels of stolen oil per day.
