Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says a coordinated campaign by defence and intelligence agencies has nearly wiped out pipeline theft, restoring confidence in the country’s crude evacuation network.

Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Bayo Ojulari, told a regional security forum in Abuja on Monday that pipeline receipts have rebounded after years of massive losses to sabotage and theft.

“Today, I can proudly report that our pipeline and terminal receipts are attaining close to 100%,” Ojulari said. “This was achieved through improved security collaboration, especially in the Niger Delta, where most of the country’s oil infrastructure is located.”

Just three years ago, as little as 30% of crude pumped through some lines reached Nigeria’s export terminals, costing the government billions in revenue and discouraging international investment.

Ojulari noted that the theft was not limited to local operators but involved “sophisticated international syndicates” that exploited regional security gaps. According to him, tackling the menace required the joint work of the military, intelligence services, and private contractors.

The turnaround has coincided with a steady rise in oil output. At an oil conference last week, Nigeria’s regulator projected that production could exceed 2.5 million barrels per day next year — a level last achieved in 2005 before militancy in the Niger Delta slashed output to as low as 1 million bpd by 2016.

Since 2021, NNPC has worked with private security companies alongside government agencies to protect its assets, part of a wider strategy to safeguard infrastructure and boost investor confidence.

Ojulari said the company will sustain cooperation with security forces to ensure uninterrupted operations and deliver the government’s production targets.