Over the past few years, despite the government putting a lot of money and resources into stopping oil theft, the situation has not improved. Between 2021 and 2024, there were a shocking 2,654 successful cases of oil theft, as reported by DANDALI. This alarming number shows that oil theft is a major reason for oil spills, accounting for 84 percent of the incidents that the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has recorded over the last four years.
These oil theft activities not only cause harm to the environment but also lead to significant financial losses, making the country’s economic problems even worse. The attacks on Nigeria’s oil infrastructure create additional challenges for maintaining and securing the country’s resources.
A close examination of the data reveals that most of the oil spills were reported either by companies involved in oil exploration or by people living in areas affected by these spills. The number of illegal oil spills actually increased from 2021 to 2023 before dropping in 2024. For instance, in 2021, there were 613 spills, which led to the loss of around 40,707 barrels of oil. That’s roughly equivalent to 6.4 million liters, or enough oil to fill 204 large tanker trucks. Out of all the spills reported that year, about 76.9 percent were due to oil theft.
In 2022, oil theft incidents continued to rise, making up 83.5 percent of the total spills (with 665 out of 794 cases), resulting in the loss of over 47,700 barrels of oil. The problem worsened even further in 2023, when the number of oil theft incidents jumped to 1,046, making up 90 percent of that year’s total spills. This led to the loss of around 18,747 barrels of oil, which is about 2.9 million liters.
In 2024, oil spills amounted to about 19,000 barrels of crude oil, equivalent to approximately three million liters, or enough to fill about 95 tanker trucks. Among these spills, one was classified as “major,” meaning it involved spilling over 250 barrels into rivers, or more than 2,500 barrels on land or in other areas. Besides, out of 589 spills reported that year, 10 were deemed “medium,” spilling between 25 and 250 barrels, while 285 were classified as “minor” with spills of up to 25 barrels.
Despite some signs of improvement, the number of minor spills did decrease compared to the previous year—down from 520 to 261 minor spills in 2024. However, many spills were not categorized by size, and some incidents did not have the amount of spilled oil listed, showing gaps in tracking and reporting.
Different oil companies were involved, with Nigerian Agip Oil Company recording the highest number of spills at 185. Shell followed with 169 spills, while other companies like NNPC E&P, Heirs Energies, and Mobil reported fewer incidents.
The problem of oil theft costs Nigeria billions of dollars every day and significantly disrupts the country’s oil production. This illegal activity not only affects national revenue but also leads to environmental damage, polluting rivers and farmland, and threatening the livelihoods of farmers and fishermen who depend on these natural resources.
In a recent effort to combat this issue, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited uncovered 55 illegal refineries and 29 unauthorized pipeline connections in just one week across the Niger Delta. This operation took place from January 11 to 17, 2025, leading to the arrest of 30 suspects involved in these illegal activities. In total, 179 incidents of oil theft were noted in that region alone during this period.
