NNPC Ltd. and security agencies have intensified efforts to curb pipeline vandalism and protect critical energy infrastructure, following a joint inspection of a vandalized crude oil pipeline in Pai community, FCT, Abuja.
A statement on Thursday by Mr. Andy Odeh, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd., said the joint inspection was prompted by the arrest of three suspected pipeline vandals in Piri and Pai communities, in the Kwali Area Council, Abuja.
The renewed commitment was demonstrated during the inspection of a damaged section of the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC) pipeline at Pai community.
The inspection involved the Industry-Wide Security Architecture (IWSA), NPSC, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Special Prosecution Team, the FCT Police Command, the Nigerian Army, and other security stakeholders.
During the inspection, NNPC Ltd.’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bashir Ojulari, described the arrests as a significant breakthrough in efforts to dismantle criminal networks behind attacks on oil and gas facilities.
Represented by the Chief Interface Officer, Mr. Dahiru Sani-Gwarzo, Ojulari stated that the suspects were only a fraction of a larger syndicate engaged in sabotaging the nation’s energy infrastructure.
“Our focus remains on identifying and bringing to justice the masterminds and sponsors of these criminal activities.
“Beyond the huge economic losses they cause, such acts undermine national development, energy security, and investor confidence,” he said.
Ojulari assured that NNPC Ltd. would continue working closely with security agencies to ensure perpetrators are apprehended and prosecuted.
FCT Police Commissioner Mr. Ahmed Sanusi emphasized that the operation demonstrated the determination of security agencies to protect critical national assets and dismantle syndicates involved in pipeline vandalism.
Sanusi noted that suspects were arrested through intelligence gathering, surveillance, and targeted patrols following reports of interference with pipeline sections.
He added that investigations had already provided useful leads on sponsors and receivers of stolen materials.
“All persons connected with the crime will be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” he affirmed.
The Director of Energy Security at ONSA, Mr. Goodluck Ebele, urged Nigerians to support security agencies with timely, credible information to prevent pipeline vandalism and economic sabotage.
Ebele emphasized that public vigilance and cooperation are vital to protecting national assets and enhancing energy security.
Representing the Nigerian Army, Lt.-Col. J.O. Ajongbo reaffirmed the military’s commitment to working with NNPC Ltd. and other security agencies to safeguard oil and gas infrastructure nationwide.
Similarly, Mr. Sesi Whingan, Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), pledged legislative support to strengthen deterrence against pipeline vandalism through improved legal and regulatory measures.
NPSC, a subsidiary of NNPC Ltd., owns over 5,000 kilometers of crude oil and petroleum product pipelines across Nigeria.
According to NNPC Ltd., pipeline theft has increased since 2024, with criminal groups allegedly disguising as government task forces to steal pipeline infrastructure.
The company reported 19 cases of pipeline theft in 2025, leading to the loss of about nine kilometers of pipeline along the Enugu-Makurdi-Yola corridor and between Piri and Izom on the Warri-Kaduna route.
Already, five cases have been recorded in 2026 along the Piri-Kwali, Gwagwalada, and Badanga pipeline corridors.
