Nigeria has recorded a major breakthrough in the fight against crude oil theft, with official data showing a 50.2% drop in oil losses during the first seven months of 2025 the lowest level in over 15 years.
Figures released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) reveal that between January and July 2025, the country lost just 2.04 million barrels of crude oil, averaging 9,600 barrels per day. This marks the lowest daily loss rate since 2009, when average daily losses stood at 8,500 barrels.
By comparison, Nigeria lost 4.1 million barrels of crude in 2024 at an average of 11,300 barrels per day. Even more striking, the new figures represent a 94.57% reduction from the record-high theft levels of 2021, when the country lost 37.6 million barrels, or 102,900 barrels daily.
In a statement on Thursday, NUPRC’s Head of Media and Strategic Communications, Eniola Akinkuotu, attributed the improvements to enhanced regulatory controls, community engagement, and security collaboration.
“Between January and July 2025, crude oil losses were contained at 2.04 million barrels. This is a clear departure from the high-loss years that once plagued Nigeria’s oil industry,” the statement read.
According to the commission, the turnaround is linked to a series of reforms and interventions:
- Metering Audit Initiative: This program ensures accurate measurement of production and exports, helping to eliminate discrepancies and detect losses early.
- Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) Implementation: Since the PIA was enacted in 2021, Nigeria has built a stronger regulatory foundation for the oil and gas sector.
- New Evacuation Routes: In a bid to further secure the value chain, the NUPRC has approved 37 new crude evacuation routes to bypass high-risk areas prone to theft.
“The commission is using both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches,” the statement continued. “We’re strengthening ties with security agencies and host communities, while also tightening oversight through strategic audits and system reviews.”
The progress has not gone unnoticed. In June 2025, Oyeleke Banmeke, Executive Coordinator of the Independent Petroleum Producers Group, confirmed that crude theft had dropped substantially compared to previous years.
Banmeke also praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for prioritizing security in the oil-producing Niger Delta region, historically a hotspot for pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering.
“This administration has taken significant steps to secure our oil infrastructure, and the results are beginning to show,” Banmeke said.
What’s Next?
With theft levels falling and new monitoring routes being rolled out, the NUPRC says it is committed to sustaining the momentum.
Commission Chief Executive Gbenga Komolafe has reiterated the agency’s dedication to “securing every barrel” and ensuring that Nigeria’s upstream sector remains globally competitive.
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