Nigeria has recorded its lowest crude oil losses in nearly sixteen years, prompting fresh calls to consolidate security and regulatory reforms in the petroleum sector.
According to new figures from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), daily crude oil losses in July were contained at 9,600 barrels—the lowest since 2009. Between January and July 2025, total losses stood at 2.04 million barrels, representing a dramatic turnaround from 2021, when the country lost an average of 102,900 barrels per day.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) welcomed the development, crediting improved surveillance and private security partnerships for the sharp decline. It singled out Tantita Security Services, a Niger Delta-based contractor, for its role in protecting oil infrastructure and disrupting theft networks.
HURIWA argued that the figures validated the engagement of community-linked security outfits in tackling long-standing leakages that have undermined Nigeria’s economy. The group stressed that the collaboration between regulators, government, and private contractors had moved beyond rhetoric to measurable results.
The Association also urged the Tinubu administration to sustain support for security providers working in high-risk environments, warning that complacency could reverse the gains. It added that reduced losses should translate into greater transparency and investment in infrastructure, social services, and poverty reduction.
NUPRC Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe, attributed the improvements to a mix of measures, including expanded surveillance, tighter metering audits, and the approval of new evacuation routes.
Energy analysts have also described the decline as evidence that reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act are beginning to bear fruit, though they cautioned that long-term success will require vigilance, innovation, and accountability.
HURIWA added that the steep fall in crude oil losses represented an opportunity to restore Nigeria’s credibility as a reliable producer and to reinvest savings into economic development.
