Nigeria has recorded its lowest crude oil losses in more than a decade, with new figures from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) showing daily losses contained at 9,600 barrels in July — the lowest since 2009.

The Niger Delta Environmental Justice Coalition has welcomed the development, attributing the progress in part to the work of Tantita Security Services, a private contractor engaged in the protection of oil infrastructure in the region.

In a statement made available to The Guardian on Sunday, coalition spokesman Abalagha Adawari said the sharp fall in losses reflected the impact of strengthened surveillance and local knowledge in tackling theft and vandalism across the Niger Delta. He added that the gains underscored the importance of continuing cooperation between the government and security providers.

According to NUPRC, crude oil losses between January and July 2025 amounted to 2.04 million barrels, averaging 9,600 barrels per day. This compares with far higher levels in recent years, including 2021 when Nigeria lost 37.6 million barrels, averaging over 100,000 barrels daily.

The Coalition urged the Tinubu administration not to allow complacency or sabotage to erode the progress. It argued that consolidating these gains would be critical for Nigeria’s economy, which remains heavily dependent on oil revenues.

The NUPRC report emphasised that the reduction stemmed from tighter surveillance, improved metering accuracy and coordinated security interventions.

Energy experts say the figures could strengthen investor confidence in Nigeria’s oil sector if the trend is sustained.

Stakeholders in the Niger Delta maintain that curbing theft and leakages is essential to restoring production levels, boosting government revenue and ensuring greater stability in the petroleum industry.