Crude Oil
Oil Thieves Are After My Life; Says NNPC Boss, Mele Kyari
NNPC managing director Mele Kyari said oil thieves are after his life after a series of illegal pipelines were uncovered.
The Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Limited (NNPC Limited), Mele Kyari has disclosed that oil thieves are after his life.
The NNPC boss stated this at a summit organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption.
Although Kyari did not mention the identity of those after his life, he, however, noted that the threat is about the discovery of about 295 illegal connections to oil pipelines across the country.
” We have seen over 295 illegal connections to our pipelines” he said.
The NNPC boss nonetheless labels the threat to his life as a non-issue, stating that “every human being will die one day”.
Investors King had earlier reported that several illegal tappings were discovered along oil pipelines across the country. One of such was a 4km long tapping along the forcados terminal.
A culmination of all the illegal tapping, therefore, led to a massive reduction in the country’s oil output and the subsequent displacement as Africa’s largest old producer by Angola.
Following the battle against oil thieves and the repairs among the oil pipelines, Kyari noted that the country’s oil production has increased to about 1.4 million barrels per day from a record low of about 900,000 barrels per day two months ago.
Also speaking at the event, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, disclosed that the commission is investigating all personnel linked to crude theft in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Kyari also disclosed that NNPC has engaged the services of private security companies to secure the oil pipelines.
“NNPC has decided to use the services of private security firms to police the pipelines,” he said.
He noted that the private security firms working in collaboration with other security agencies has helped to record a lot of achievements against vandals and oil thieves.
On the failure of NNPC to remit to the Federation Account, Kyari blamed it on fuel subsidies.
Investors King understands that the Federal Government plans to spend N3.6 trillion on fuel subsidy in 2023.