Lagos, a thriving hub for oil theft

There is no doubt that the Niger-Delta, in the South-South region, is the hub of illegal oil bunkering. But it now has a stiff competitor in Lagos State in the South-Western region.

Ripples investigations showed that there is a massive illegal bunkering going on in almost all the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline points in the region, especially in Lagos State.

The worst area, however, is Ilado in Oriade Local Council Development Area (LCDA) where the illicit business has become a daily activity.

The NNPC pipelines are laid across the community leading to Atlas Cove loading depot by the ocean, which is just a few meters away.

It was gathered that the illicit trade takes place daily once the night falls with the community youths taking charge and also collecting ‘approval fees’ from outsiders who come from far and near to have a taste of what they refer to as ‘national cake’.

It was learnt that at any point in time, there are usually scores of criminals siphoning oil from the pipelines after breaking it with specialised tools.

They close the burst spaces also with their specially tools after having their fill.

But they are not alone in the criminal business as they were said to be given covers by security agents who patrol the waterways and the area.

They include Marine Police and Naval personnel but the police are said to be more involved as they also assist in the illegal bunkering.

Read also: Oil producing communities make case for illegal refineries

No mention of men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who ought to protect the facility.

“The police at Ilado Police Station are fully involved. They even assist in ferrying the product”, said a source in the neigbouring community.

The products are loaded in surface tanks and thousands of 50-litre jerry cans and moved to Benin Republic in wooden boats.

The police sell their own quota to interested buyers who would later sell it to bunkerers who take them ashore across the border.

It was also learnt that the youths in Ilado have formed a very powerful cartel that makes them the only ‘consenting authority’ before any bunkering can take place in the area.

“They collect settlements from outsiders despite the fact that they also do their own. They claim to be sons of the soil (Omo Onile)”, another source said.

Ilado has been notorious for illegal bunkering for years.

On several occasions, disasters had happened at the pipeline points in the area claiming hundreds of illegal bunkers lives when fire outbreak occurred.

The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, said recently that Nigeria was losing a significant quota of its petroleum products to oil thieves and therefore solicited the support of the military to protect its pipelines.

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now