The Nigerian Navy has stepped up its fight against crude oil theft, shutting down 71 illegal refineries and seizing over 400,000 litres of stolen crude oil in July 2025 alone.

According to Commodore Ayiwuyor Adams-Aliu, Director of Naval Information, the clampdown was carried out under Operation Delta Sanity, a special security drive targeting oil theft and economic sabotage in the Niger Delta.

The month-long operation uncovered 120 dugout pits, illegal storage tanks, and an array of equipment used in crude oil siphoning and refining across Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom States.

Key seizures included:

411,400 litres of stolen crude oil

87,825 litres of illegally-refined diesel (AGO)

72,000 litres of kerosene (DPK)

21,900 litres of petrol (PMS)

On July 4, naval teams deactivated refining sites in Ogba, Egbema, and Ndoni (Rivers State) holding over 66,000 litres of crude and 40,000 litres of refined diesel. Later, on July 14, troops intercepted smuggling operations to Cameroon and uncovered underground reservoirs containing thousands of litres of stolen crude.

In one of the biggest busts, over 450,000 litres of crude were recovered during two large-scale raids on July 22 and 23 in Biseni, Bayelsa State. Several wooden boats used for smuggling petroleum products were also seized, and six suspected smugglers were arrested.

Commodore Adams-Aliu praised the efforts of naval personnel under the leadership of Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, noting that the crackdown has contributed to Nigeria’s oil production climbing above 1.8 million barrels per day.

The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) reports that oil theft cost Nigeria N16.25 trillion between 2009 and 2020, but recent figures show a sharp drop—from 36.69 million barrels lost in 2022 to 7.68 million in 2023—thanks to stronger security measures.

“The Nigerian Navy remains resolute in protecting our maritime domain, stamping out illegal oil operations, and securing the nation’s economic lifeline,” Adams-Aliu assured.