Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA — The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has raised urgent concerns about a significant uptick in pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, warning that the escalating sabotage of vital energy infrastructure poses serious threats to Nigeria’s economy and national security. The alert was sounded as part of General Shaibu’s maiden operational tour of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he addressed officers and soldiers on Friday.
In remarks to troops, General Shaibu charged soldiers to intensify security around critical oil and gas installations — including pipelines, flow stations, and related facilities — underpinning the nation’s crude oil production, export capacity, and revenue base. He emphasised that safeguarding these assets goes beyond routine military duty, framing it as a national imperative. “Your job here is very key to protecting critical national infrastructure, and once you do that job very well, it will impact positively on the economy of the country,” he said, reinforcing that a lapse in vigilance could have devastating economic consequences.
The Niger Delta, historically the heart of Nigeria’s petroleum industry, has for decades been beset by vandalism, illegal bunkering, and crude theft. These illicit activities have not only disrupted production but have also contributed to environmental degradation and loss of government revenue. While official data varies, industry analysts have previously estimated that oil theft and pipeline sabotage have cost the Nigerian economy billions of dollars annually, highlighting the severity of the challenge.
General Shaibu’s warning comes against the backdrop of intensified military operations designed to dismantle the networks behind oil theft and vandalism. In recent months, troops under Operation Delta Safe and other coordinated efforts have recorded notable successes, including the destruction of illegal refining sites, the seizure of stolen petroleum products, and the arrest of suspected oil thieves. In one such operation, soldiers dismantled 41 illegal refining hubs and recovered tens of thousands of litres of stolen crude and refined products, denying criminal networks access to resources and revenue.
Another recent coordinated sweep by the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division resulted in the arrest of 19 suspects, the destruction of 22 illicit refining sites, and the retrieval of over 180,000 litres of stolen petroleum products worth more than N150 million in value. Security officials characterized these operations as part of an ongoing campaign to deny criminal elements “freedom of action” throughout the Niger Delta region.
Despite these operational gains, pipeline vandalism remains resilient, and the motives behind the attacks are complex, involving organised criminal gangs, local actors seeking economic gain, and broader socio-economic grievances among disenfranchised youth. Some analysts argue that without addressing the underlying drivers of crime — including unemployment, poverty, and lack of community inclusion — the cycle of sabotage and theft may persist, challenging security forces and policy makers alike.
To that end, calls for collaborative approaches have emerged, urging closer cooperation between security agencies, oil companies, community leaders, and government authorities. In recent stakeholder engagements, representatives from pipeline protection initiatives have proposed partnering with community groups and anti-drug campaigns to sensitize local youth against involvement in criminal activities, asserting that greater discipline and economic opportunity within host communities could help reduce vandalism.
General Shaibu also stressed his commitment to the welfare of troops, assuring soldiers that their needs — including accommodation, education, and other support services — would receive attention. He reiterated that a well-supported and motivated force is essential to confronting the sophisticated and evolving tactics of pipeline vandals and oil thieves.
The military’s intensified focus on pipeline security aligns with broader national security directives. Recent shifts in Nigeria’s military leadership have underscored the urgency of strengthening security frameworks. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, in consultation with defence leadership, has placed priority on degrading criminal operations in the Niger Delta while also confronting other security challenges nationwide, including banditry and insurgency.
Economic analysts warn that continuous disruptions to Nigeria’s crude oil infrastructure could undermine fiscal stability, dampen investor confidence, and exacerbate foreign exchange pressures. Crude oil remains a linchpin of the nation’s export earnings, and sustained production losses driven by theft and sabotage could ripple across government budgets and broader economic planning. This concern is heightened by recent international travel advisories citing rising insecurity in parts of Nigeria — a reflection of broader governance and security challenges facing the country.
In response to these mounting threats, security experts are increasingly calling for advanced surveillance technology, improved intelligence sharing between agencies, and strengthened community-based monitoring systems. They argue that such integrated approaches — combining technological, military, and civil society efforts — are crucial to outpacing the adaptive strategies of criminal networks targeting oil infrastructure.
At the same time, some Niger Delta stakeholders advocate for reforming pipeline surveillance contracts and enhancing local participation in protecting energy assets. Previously, debates have arisen around the management of security contracts with private firms, with concerns that undermining effective surveillance contracts could erode recent progress in curbing vandalism and theft, potentially destabilising peace efforts and eroding trust within local communities.
As the security situation evolves, the Nigerian Army’s heightened focus on pipeline protection highlights the gravity of the challenge facing the nation’s energy sector. With sustained military pressure, cooperative community engagement, and strategic policy interventions, Abuja hopes to stem the tide of vandalism and ensure the resilience of Nigeria’s most significant economic lifeline.
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