By Austin Oyibode,
Senator Ned Nwoko, Chairman of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, is intensifying efforts to curb one of Nigeria’s most pressing economic threats—crude oil theft—through strategic engagements with petroleum regulators and international partners.
On August 1, 2025, Senator Nwoko held a high-level meeting with Engr. Babajide Fashina of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Mrs. Ngozi Nwankwo of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), alongside Spanish counterpart Mr. Bernardino Ferrer. Discussions centered on attracting foreign investment, enhancing regulatory synergy, and fortifying the security of Nigeria’s energy assets.
“These engagements reflect our commitment to a transparent, secure, and investor-friendly petroleum sector,” Nwoko stated, calling for a united front among regulators, lawmakers, and global allies to stamp out oil theft and restore investor confidence.
Despite a reported 58.3% drop in crude theft to 5,000 barrels per day in early 2025, broader and indirect losses still pose a grave threat to Nigeria’s revenue and energy security. Since June 2023, the Nigerian Navy has seized 76 vessels and recovered 171,000 barrels of stolen crude, while the military has destroyed dozens of illegal refineries and introduced 37 new evacuation routes to strengthen pipeline integrity.
Nwoko is also pushing legislative reforms, including harsher penalties for oil theft, enhanced oil traceability, community-led pipeline monitoring, and cross-border forensic investigations. His meeting with the NMDPRA underscored the need to close regulatory loopholes, while collaboration with the IGP aims to launch a unified enforcement architecture. With international allies expressing interest, Nwoko believes Nigeria stands at a pivotal moment. “Progress is real, but fragile,” he warned. “We must act decisively to protect our resources and secure our economic future.”
