By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Nigerian military has intensified efforts to curb oil theft, warning that illegal bunkering continues to drain the nation’s economy and threaten the Federal Government’s target of producing three million barrels of crude oil per day.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said oil theft deprives the country of vital revenue, weakens economic growth, and discourages investment in the oil and gas sector. He stressed that protecting oil infrastructure is essential to national development and economic stability.
Major General Onoja spoke while leading a team of Defence Correspondents to inspect a strategic oil wellhead at Adibawa, Ahoada Local Government Area, along the boundary between Rivers and Bayelsa states. He noted that the absence of illegal bunkering activities at the site reflects the effectiveness of sustained military operations.
According to him, continuous efforts to prevent oil theft and illegal refining around key facilities have helped raise Nigeria’s crude oil production to about 2.2 million barrels per day, moving the country closer to its production target.
He called on host communities and individuals involved in illegal bunkering to abandon the practice, warning that oil theft directly undermines economic progress and national development. He also assured that the Armed Forces will continue to protect oil facilities across the country, stressing that community cooperation remains critical to long-term success.
In a related briefing, the Acting Garrison Commander, Major Hassan Mohammed, disclosed that the military is strengthening its operational presence on both land and waterways. He revealed that drones are being actively deployed to monitor forests, track illegal refining camps, and support coordinated land-and-water operations against oil theft networks.
Major Mohammed added that plans are underway for permanent deployment of gunboats and ground troops in the area, particularly during the rainy season when flooding increases the activities of oil thieves.
