According to the government, Nigeria has succeeded in bringing down the volume of crude oil being lost to thieves in the country to about 40,000 barrels from 100,000 daily.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State expressed the belief that the figure would soon be further reduced, reports Olalekan Adetayo for Punch.

He said, “Let me emphasise that the volume of crude oil theft is reducing. Again, I must explain that at a time, oil theft was at its peak; there was a shut-in of about 300,000 barrels of oil as a result of damage to two major pipelines; and at that time, between 80,000 and 100,000 barrels were being stolen.

“That was the time we took some measures to ensure that the quantity that is being stolen is reduced.

“Today, I can tell you that the crude that is being stolen is reduced to about 40,000 barrels per day. Those two pipelines are now functioning. So, the 300,000 that was shut in as a result of the damage to the pipelines have now been opened.”

Uduaghan added, “Stealing 40,000 barrels per day is still on the high side, but as we go further in putting a lot of measures in place, especially in the area of prosecution, I believe that the quantity that is being stolen will gradually reduce, if possible, come to zero level.

“Apart from prosecution, we are also talking of technology and monitoring to deal with oil theft.”