Business
Oil Theft: Navy Chief Accuses IOCs
International oil companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria have been accused of complicity in the theft of the country’s crude oil.
Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, made the accusation while speaking at a meeting of the top leadership of the Navy and the managing directors/chief executive officers of the IOCs in Abuja on Wednesday.
He also said that the Navy would not pretend about the involvement of the oil firms in crude oil theft.
Jibrin said it took him seven and a half months since his appointment to call the first meeting between the Navy and the firms to discuss serious issues of concern in the oil sector, which included oil theft and illegal bunkering.
The Navy boss also explained that he made it clear that the CEOs should attend the meeting in person without representation because of the need to discuss the issues, which he described as disturbing, but regretted that the request was ignored.
Jibrin said some of the oil firms had deliberately left the manifolds of their oil wells open for years without conscious efforts to close them in spite of the fact that only experts had the capacity to reopen closed manifolds.
He warned that the Navy would ensure the arrest of executives of the IOCs who decided to leave the manifolds of their wells open for years without closing them.
He also threatened to deal with any naval officer found to have been involved in the criminal theft of the nation’s oil resources in accordance with the laws guiding the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The CNS warned that the Navy would go beyond accusing the firms to mentioning names of those suspected to be involved in the theft of the nation’s resources.
Jibrin wondered why the oil chiefs had not given the expected cooperation in the bid to seek a concerted solution to the raging issue of oil theft.
He said the time had come for the oil firms and the security agencies to seek solutions to the issue of oil theft in the country.
Jibrin said, “This is the first meeting I am having with the oil firms to discuss the issue of oil theft and illegal bunkering. It took us seven and half months to call this meeting, and specifically, we said we don’t want representation.
“We have a serious challenge and we need the commitment of the CEOs to discuss oil theft. It has become worrisome that we have not been able to check the issue of oil wells. It has got to a point that instead of pointing accusing fingers, we will mention names, including those of the major stakeholders.
“We cannot pretend that the oil companies do not have a hand in some of these illegalities; pretending is to allow it to continue. We will not pretend. I can start by citing some examples; some companies have left their oil wells opened for years and have done nothing to close them up. Because of the technical nature of the manifolds, once they are closed, only the experts can open them. Why have they been left open for years?”
He added, “I have pictures here. Why is it that all of us cannot sit down at a round table and provide a solution? Why are we denting the image of this country? It has come to a point that we must meet, discuss and provide solutions to issues pertaining to oil theft.
“Government is worried and those of us who are agents of the government are also worried. On my part, if any of my personnel is involved, they will be dealt with adequately in accordance with the existing law of the Armed Forces.
“I have decided that I will take some steps that if the manifolds are left open for years and our attention is drawn to the need for it to be closed, we will look for and start arresting officials of the oil companies who own that and left them without taking appropriate action.”
He said that the government was taking the issue of oil theft seriously because of the loss of revenue and the inimical effects of oil theft on the environment.
Responding on behalf of the firms, the Chairman, Oil Producer Trading Services, Mr. Ayobami Olubiyi, said that the companies had also taken steps to curb the threat of oil theft.
He recalled that the Federal Government set up an ad-hoc committee on the subject, with some funds released to address the pressing issues some months ago.
He said that men of the Nigerian Navy were involved in securing the operations of the oil firm in the Niger Delta and Lagos.
Olubiyi said, “It is not just the Nigerian Navy but all who have been supporting our business. And I also want to assure you that concerning oil theft, we have taken a lot of steps. That is why in the last couple of months, an ad-hoc committee was set up by the Federal Government to look into this, and I am aware that some money had been released to help curtail this situation.
“We will continue to advocate a true platform; and as you are aware, we have a number of your officers and men who have been supporting our operations in the Delta, including Lagos. They have been very professional in the way and manner they carry out this operation; and together with the CNS, I am sure we will all be able to work to ensure that we mitigate this very unfortunate situation in our country today.”
Chairman, Rivers State Board of Internal Revenue, Onene Osila Obele Oshoko (standing), fielding questions from lawmakers when the board members appeared before the House in Port Harcourt recently. With her are State Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Chamberlain Peterside (left) and Special Adviser to the Governor on Revenue Generation, Chief Nwankwo Nwankwo.
In a concerted effort to tackle racketeering and reduce inflated transportation costs in the Nigeria’s seaports, Trucks Transit Parks Ltd. (TTP) has trained Licensed Customs Agents and Freight Forwarders on the use of its Ètò electronic call-up system.
The training was held recently at Customs Processing Centre (CPC) Auditorium, Apapa, Lagos, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and supported by the leadership of the Joint Association of Licensed Customs Agents and Freight Forwarders (JALCAFF), Apapa Command.
Speaking at the event, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu expressed appreciation to TTP for facilitating the training and emphasized the need for customs agents to take personal ownership of the Ètò booking process.
“I want to thank TTP for this impactful training. I encourage all customs agents to begin doing their own bookings directly. By doing so, they can take back power from the unscrupulous elements exploiting their lack of knowledge, selling tickets at highly inflated prices,” Olomu declared.
He noted that empowering agents with hands-on training was key to dismantling racketeering networks that have plagued access to the ports and frustrated efficient logistics processes.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Apapa Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Chief Emeka Chukwumalu, said the engagement was critical to the ongoing push to reduce cargo transportation costs and ease business operations at the Apapa Port.
According to a freight forwarder, “The training is basically for us to have awareness of the operations of the Ètò call-up system through TTP. We also want to brainstorm on ways to reduce the high cost of cargo transportation in Apapa Port.
“This training opened our eyes to how simple it is to book tickets ourselves. We now know the right steps to follow and how to avoid falling victim to fraudsters.”
Earlier, Head of Operations at TTP, Mr. Irabor Akonoman, talked on common misconceptions about ticket pricing, reaffirming that the cost of Ètò bookings had remained consistent since its inception.
“The official price remains the same since inception. What people are paying higher amounts for is the manipulation by racketeers”.
Towards strengthening small businesses and promoting a more supportive regulatory environment, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) says it will hold the 2025 edition of its flagship MSMEs Fair on Tuesday (May 6, 2025).
The event, themed, “Galvanising MSMEs for Economic Growth and Stability”, will take place at NECA House in Lagos.
According to NECA’s Director-General, Mr Adewale Smatt Oyerinde, the fair seeks to provide micro, small, and medium enterprises with essential tools, resources, and strategic networks to thrive in Nigeria’s challenging business climate.
He emphasised the vital role MSMEs play in national development, describing them as the “lifeblood of Nigeria’s economy.”
Oyerinde noted that the fair is designed to offer entrepreneurs practical solutions to navigate economic uncertainties, regulatory hurdles, and business scalability issues.
A major attraction of this year’s event is the keynote address by the CEO of FATE Foundation, Mrs. Adenike Adeyemi, a prominent advocate for MSME development.
She is expected to share transformative insights on innovative strategies for sustaining and growing small businesses in Nigeria.
A unique feature of the fair will be interactive sessions with key regulatory bodies. Entrepreneurs will engage directly with agencies responsible for licensing, compliance, taxation, and business registration.
NECA said these sessions aim to demystify bureaucratic processes and foster a more enabling business environment.
It also said the fair will provide a platform for entrepreneurs to exhibit their products and services, connect with potential investors, and explore new markets.
It added that participants would gain critical knowledge on digital transformation, access to finance, and strategies for sustainable business growth.
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· NECA stressed that the fair aligns with its broader mission of promoting enterprise development and economic resilience.
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· “By empowering MSMEs with the right support and information, the organisation aims to stimulate job creation, innovation, and long-term economic stability”, NECA said.
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· The 2025 MSMEs Fair is expected to attract a wide range of stakeholders, including financiers, tech experts, regulators, and industry leaders, all united in advancing the growth of Nigeria’s MSME sector.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, says over two million passengers have been transported on the Blue Line Rail since its launch, while state-run buses move an average of 42,000 commuters daily.
Osiyemi, who disclosed this during the Year 2025 Ministerial press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, on Tuesday, noted that the Lagos State Transport Policy, launched in May 2024, was now in its implementation phase, focusing on inclusivity, safety, affordability, and sustainability.
“On rail development, Phase One of the Blue Line (Marina to Mile 2) has served over two million passengers, with Phase Two (Mile 2 to Okokomaiko) in progress.
“Phase One of the Red Line (Agbado to Oyingbo) is now operational with eight stations and additional rolling stocks procured, while Phase two (Oyingbo to link Blue Line at National Theatre) is underway”, he said.
The Commissioner said in the state-owned bus operations, over 60 million commuters have been served since 2019, with daily ridership exceeding 40,000.
He also said plans were on to deploy new buses with Quality Bus Corridors under construction, adding that the Abule=Egba Bus Terminal had also been commissioned.
“For water transport, 15 locally-built Omibus Ferries have been launched and are in operation, with the Ijegun Egba Terminal now open.
“The OMI EKO project, in partnership with the French Development Agency (AFD), will deliver 25 terminals and 78 electric ferries.
“Over 280,000 passengers have used ferry services in the past year, and 12 boats have been upgraded to meet safety standards”, he said.
On road infrastructure and traffic management, the Commissioner said 49 junction improvement projects had been completed, including ongoing ones at Ikorodu, Iju, as well as Allen-Opebi-Toyin axis.
He added that solar-powered Traffic Signal Lights, road markings covering 67.9km, new medians, laybys, and 3,941 parking lots had also been provided.
Additionally, Osiyemi announced that the deployed Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras had detected over 470,000 traffic violations and that the Vehicle Inspection Service issued over one million roadworthiness certificates.
He also said that the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute trained more than 32,000 drivers in the past 13 months.
The event marked the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term, showcasing major strides in the transport sector under the THEMES+ agenda.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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