By Erewunmi Peace

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has announced that crude oil theft and related losses have declined by more than 90 percent since 2021, marking significant progress in the country’s fight against pipeline vandalism and sabotage.

According to official figures, crude losses stood at about 102,900 barrels per day in 2021. As of mid-2025, the losses have dropped to around 9,600 barrels per day — the lowest level in over a decade.

The Commission attributed the progress to a combination of tighter surveillance, community collaboration, deployment of advanced monitoring technology, and increased security presence along major oil pipelines.

NUPRC also dismissed recent reports claiming Nigeria lost ₦8.4 trillion to oil theft between 2021 and 2025, describing the methodology used in those estimates as “inaccurate and misleading.” The agency explained that crude oil losses include not only theft but also measurement errors and operational inefficiencies, which are often overstated in external assessments.

Despite the progress, industry observers caution that oil theft remains a persistent challenge, particularly in the Niger Delta, and stress the need for sustained reforms to protect Nigeria’s oil revenue base.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, relies heavily on crude oil exports for foreign exchange earnings and government revenue. Reducing theft and losses is seen as critical to boosting production and strengthening economic stability.