Nigerian Navy clarifies oil theft figures released by NNPC, says misrepresented official
The Nigerian Navy on Sunday refuted reports that its official had accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) of insincerity and exaggerating oil theft figures.
A statement signed by Navy Director of Information Ayo Vaughan said his attention was drawn to a publication in a national daily on Dec. 4 with the headline: "NNPC insincere about flight oil, exaggerating the Navy figures".
The report had claimed that the Navy, when appearing before the Senate Committee on Economic and Financial Crimes, said that the NNPC had deliberately continued to mislead Nigerians on the issue of crude oil theft.< /p>
In its reaction, the Navy claimed that what transpired during a recent interactive hearing before the Senate Economic and Financial Crimes Committee was completely misinterpreted by the newspaper.
The statement claims that the Nigerian Navy representative at the hearing explained that the challenge of oil theft is due to the criminal activity of illegal local refiners who operate the export lines many of which are no longer in operation. activity since the beginning of this year.
The release says major terminals have been unable to process crude oil for export since around February and March, and such inability to process export is reported as stolen oil because it is virtually impossible to fly and move 100,000 barrels a day. out of streams.
Mr. Ayo-Vaughan explained that instead, the Navy is working closely with the national oil company to arrest and prosecute oil thieves and pipeline vandals, who have disrupted the crude oil production process. p> READ ALSO:
"The Navy representative at the Senate hearing repeatedly mentioned that the Navy is not indicting the NNPCL in any way and is working with the National Oil Giant to address the threat of crude oil theft since the 1 April 2022, when Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO (OPDDB) was launched in Onne, Rivers State as part of a mutual effort and synergy between Navy and NNPCL to address issues of crude oil theft, rampant illegal artisanal refineries and illegal oil bunkering, among other creek crimes,” the statement read.
“At the strategic level, almost daily and regular consultations, engagements and meetings are held between the Navy and the NNPCL to review the situation, assess the approach to contain the threat and propose ways forward. relevant, to attempt to imply otherwise would be a gross distortion of the cordial and mutual working relationship between the 2 organizations."
Mr. Ayo-Vaughan said the allegation of insincerity and exaggeration by NNPCL as reported in the news "is therefore not a fair formulation of the actual speech that transpired because what was said and what meant was captured inaccurately, particularly in the wording of the report's title.”
He added that the Nigerian Navy has worked and will continue to work with NNCPL to find solutions and remedies to challenges in Nigeria's maritime environment as it relates to the petroleum industry.
"The most important of these mutual efforts is the planned return of the 'Fisicalization' process, which was halted in the late 1980s, whereby then-Navy personnel will once again be present at terminals /offshore tanker loading platforms to physically see the meter reading at the point of loading crude oil on offshore tankers,” he said.
‘The first group of naval personnel to begin this task soon have been sponsored by the NNPCL and trained in the United Arab Emirates and Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State.
“There is therefore a harmonious working relationship between the Nigerian Navy and the NNPCL. The general public is therefore urged to disregard the distorted report. »
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The Nigerian Navy on Sunday refuted reports that its official had accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) of insincerity and exaggerating oil theft figures.
A statement signed by Navy Director of Information Ayo Vaughan said his attention was drawn to a publication in a national daily on Dec. 4 with the headline: "NNPC insincere about flight oil, exaggerating the Navy figures".
The report had claimed that the Navy, when appearing before the Senate Committee on Economic and Financial Crimes, said that the NNPC had deliberately continued to mislead Nigerians on the issue of crude oil theft.< /p>
In its reaction, the Navy claimed that what transpired during a recent interactive hearing before the Senate Economic and Financial Crimes Committee was completely misinterpreted by the newspaper.
The statement claims that the Nigerian Navy representative at the hearing explained that the challenge of oil theft is due to the criminal activity of illegal local refiners who operate the export lines many of which are no longer in operation. activity since the beginning of this year.
The release says major terminals have been unable to process crude oil for export since around February and March, and such inability to process export is reported as stolen oil because it is virtually impossible to fly and move 100,000 barrels a day. out of streams.
Mr. Ayo-Vaughan explained that instead, the Navy is working closely with the national oil company to arrest and prosecute oil thieves and pipeline vandals, who have disrupted the crude oil production process. p> READ ALSO:
"The Navy representative at the Senate hearing repeatedly mentioned that the Navy is not indicting the NNPCL in any way and is working with the National Oil Giant to address the threat of crude oil theft since the 1 April 2022, when Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO (OPDDB) was launched in Onne, Rivers State as part of a mutual effort and synergy between Navy and NNPCL to address issues of crude oil theft, rampant illegal artisanal refineries and illegal oil bunkering, among other creek crimes,” the statement read.
“At the strategic level, almost daily and regular consultations, engagements and meetings are held between the Navy and the NNPCL to review the situation, assess the approach to contain the threat and propose ways forward. relevant, to attempt to imply otherwise would be a gross distortion of the cordial and mutual working relationship between the 2 organizations."
Mr. Ayo-Vaughan said the allegation of insincerity and exaggeration by NNPCL as reported in the news "is therefore not a fair formulation of the actual speech that transpired because what was said and what meant was captured inaccurately, particularly in the wording of the report's title.”
He added that the Nigerian Navy has worked and will continue to work with NNCPL to find solutions and remedies to challenges in Nigeria's maritime environment as it relates to the petroleum industry.
"The most important of these mutual efforts is the planned return of the 'Fisicalization' process, which was halted in the late 1980s, whereby then-Navy personnel will once again be present at terminals /offshore tanker loading platforms to physically see the meter reading at the point of loading crude oil on offshore tankers,” he said.
‘The first group of naval personnel to begin this task soon have been sponsored by the NNPCL and trained in the United Arab Emirates and Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State.
“There is therefore a harmonious working relationship between the Nigerian Navy and the NNPCL. The general public is therefore urged to disregard the distorted report. »
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