Pix: NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari,

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has raised alarm that crude oil theft in Nigeria is being orchestrated by highly organized international syndicates taking advantage of the country’s security loopholes.

Speaking at the African Defence Chiefs Conference in Abuja, NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, stressed that the growing scale of crude oil theft calls for stronger cooperation among African nations.

Ojulari reaffirmed the company’s commitment to working hand-in-hand with Nigeria’s security and intelligence agencies to protect the nation’s vital oil and gas infrastructure.

The conference, which opened at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, brought together defence chiefs and security experts from across Africa to deliberate on strategies for combating insurgency, terrorism, oil theft, and other cross-border crimes.

The event, themed “Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaboration,” also emphasized building new partnerships with the private sector to strengthen national and regional security.

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, described the meeting as timely, noting that insurgents and criminal networks operate without regard for national borders.

“We must work together as neighbours to confront these threats. This summit will help us design strategies that deliver mutual benefits; it is a win-win for all countries involved,” Musa said.

He added that deeper collaboration will help nations understand their unique challenges while sharing effective solutions.

“It is important to come together because each region faces different security realities. By exchanging knowledge on what works and identifying gaps, we can reinforce our collective defence,” he explained.